In a recent court verdict, the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced Okoye Blessing Nwakaego for her involvement in cyberstalking and social media bullying against Nollywood actress Eniola Badmus.
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The verdict came after Nwakaego pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against her by the Police.
According to the police, Nwakaego and her accomplice, Chimabia, conspired between December 2022 and July 2023 to commit cyberstalking. They knowingly spread a false and offensive story about Eniola Badmus through platforms like Tiktok, gossipmill TV, remedy blog, and other social media networks, using Nwakaego’s mobile number.
The prosecutor, Mr. Nosa Watson Uhumwangho, presented evidence that over three million people viewed the malicious video online. Eniola Badmus, the victim of the false story, filed a petition with the police to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to justice.
During the trial, Nwakaego confessed to making the video following the prompting of a male friend, who falsely claimed to know Eniola Badmus and initiated the false story. She later received N200,000 from Chimabia to post the video on Tiktok and other platforms.
At the end of the proceedings, Justice Nicholas Oweibo handed down a three-year imprisonment sentence to Nwakaego on the two-count charge of cyberstalking. Alternatively, she had the option to pay a fine of N150,000.
Nwakaego’s defence lawyer pleaded for leniency, stating that she was a first-time offender and had shown remorse by taking down the offensive video and promising not to engage in such acts again.
Eniola Badmus expressed her satisfaction with the verdict, as justice was served in the case of the social media bullying that caused her unnecessary anxiety and harm.
The case serves as a reminder of the consequences of cyberbullying and the importance of responsible use of social media.
It also highlights the need for society to address and prevent such harmful online activities to create a safer and more respectful digital environment for everyone.
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