Man remanded in DSS custody over fake news

A 35-year-old man identified as Habib Rabiu has been remanded in a DSS facility after being arraigned before a Kogi State Magistrate Court 1 sitting in Lokoja for allegedly spreading fake news. 

The suspect had claimed that there’s a fever killing many people in Kogi State via a Facebook post he shared.  He was accused of creating injurious falsehood, claiming that people were dying of fever at an alarming rate and indirectly saying there was COVID-19 in the state, contrary to the position of the state government on the matter.

The native of Ayingba in Dekina LGA who was accused of spreading fake news capable of causing public disturbances, pleaded not guilty on Friday August 14 to the alleged offences said to have been committed on the 10th day of June, 2020.

The magistrate, O. J. Omajali ordered that the accused be remanded in the custody of the DSS facility for further investigations and adjourned the matter till Tuesday (18/ 8/2020), for determination of the bail application.