Habibi Rabiu, a man, was sentenced to two months in prison for falsely posting information on his Facebook page.
Rabiu was arrested and charged in court by the Department of State Services for a post titled “The rate at which fever is killing people in Kogi State is alarming.”
After being arraigned on charges of “false information capable of causing panic or inflicting injuries in society,” he was granted bail.
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The post was reportedly made during the country’s COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Mr M. A. Abaji, the prosecuting counsel, argued at the resumed hearing on Tuesday that the defendant violated Section 393 of the Kogi State Penal Code by intimidating people, inciting fear, and inciting people against the state government through his Facebook statement.
The defendant also raised a false alarm about the rate of death during the pandemic in 2020, according to Abaji.
He also mentioned that the state epidemiologist, who was called to testify in order to verify Rabiu’s claims, stated that the death rate in the state was normal at the time the defendant made the social media post.
E.A. Iwu, the defendant’s lawyer, argued that the defendant acted out of emotion after his sister died in the state after being diagnosed with malaria fever.
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In her ruling, the presiding magistrate, Chief Magistrate A.A. Agatha, sentenced the defendant to two months in prison with no option for a fine, as well as payment of N5,000 as required by law.
Before being transferred to a detention centre, the convict was said to have paid the money.
