By Deborah Nnamdi
A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has ordered the remand of a 24-year-old man, popularly known as Prophet Ubadinma, in a correctional facility over multiple charges, including defamation of character, attempted murder, arson, stealing, and malicious damage.
The accused, notorious for allegedly spreading fake prophecies, reportedly committed the offences across several villages—Offianka Inyima, Agharaoza, Affiauku, and Ochiohu Inyegu—in the Izzi and Ikwo Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State between 2020 and 2025.
One of the major allegations involved a viral video in which the suspect falsely prophesied that an Ogun State-based businessman, Emeka Mgbore (popularly known as EmmyBest), was a ritualist. The video allegedly incited mob attacks and led to the looting of the businessman’s shops in Ogun State.
In addition, the suspect’s utterances reportedly defamed other individuals, including Linus Uguru and Njoku Iziogo, subjecting them to public ridicule in the Offianka Inyima community.
The Ebonyi State Police Command arraigned him on Monday on four separate cases involving 16 count charges. These included attempted murder, arson, theft, malicious damage, and defamation.
His lead counsel, Barr. Emeka Anosike, appealed for bail on all charges, arguing that the offences were bailable and did not pose significant harm. However, Police Prosecutor ASP Lilian Aliede (Mrs) opposed the request, citing the seriousness of the allegations and their impact on the complainants.
Regarding the defamation charges, the prosecutor noted that the offences fall under Section 517 and Section 373(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
Magistrate Sandra Ifeanyi-Oyibe granted bail in the two defamation cases, setting bail at ₦2,000,000 each, with two sureties residing within the court’s jurisdiction. The sureties are required to present three years’ tax clearance as part of the bail conditions. The court adjourned both defamation cases to September 15 and 16, 2025, for hearing.
However, for the other two cases involving attempted murder, arson, and theft, the court denied bail, citing a lack of jurisdiction. Magistrate Ifeanyi-Oyibe ordered that the case files be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for review and further action. Those cases were also adjourned to September 15 and 16, respectively..
