AMagistrate Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State on Wednesday remanded two Nigerian journalists, the Managing Editor of BIGPEN NIGERIA (Online newspaper), Joe Ogbodu, and Prince Amour Udemude, over a defamatory report published on October 24, 2019.
The two journalists had written a story published on October 24, 2019, about the oil crisis in Uzere community in which one Sam Ogrih was allegedly accused of funding and sponsoring some armed Uzere community youths who styled themselves as “Freedom Fighters” and had unleashed mayhem on the community.
Consequently, a defamatory suit was brought against them by Sam Ogrih, at the Magistrate Court 4, Asaba, the Delta State Capital.
The two journalists charged for misdemeanor to wit defamatory had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges while their counsels applied for their bail.
When the court resumed sitting on the case on Wednesday, the presiding Magistrate, B.N Anumadu sentenced the two journalists and ordered them to tender an unreserved apology to Mr Sam Ogrih for the report.
However, in the apology letter written by the duo, they stated that the story was not intentional and deeply regretted it.
“Our Apologies: The two journalists regretted the publication after re-examining the facts of the story and hereby apologise to Sam Ogrih for any inconveniences the story may have caused his reputation.
“The story was not intentional and it’s deeply regretted. The general public should take notice,” they said in the letter obtained by SaharaReporters.
