The Ebonyi State Police Command has arraigned Mr Justice Ozobi and Mr Isaac Edeh over publications made against the Command and the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State.
The Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu.
According to the statement, Ozobi had published on social media that the Commissioner of Police collected ₦700,000 from each of six families to secure their release on bail over a land dispute involving the families and a traditional ruler.
The Command said it promptly rejected the claim and challenged Ozobi to provide evidence to support it.
“Rather than provide any evidence, Mr. Ozobi, in his rejoinder, insisted that he stood by his allegations,” the statement said.
The police said Ozobi also admitted that he used the photograph of a former Commissioner of Police in the publication to attract the attention of the Command.
Following an investigation, the Command arrested Ozobi and Edeh, whom Ozobi identified as the source of the information contained in the publication.
The Command said the matter referred to by the two men involved HRH Eze Sunday Oketa and others. According to the police, the individuals were investigated following a petition bordering on malicious damage and were subsequently charged to court.
“They were not released on police bail,” the statement said.
The Command also rejected the description of the matter as a land dispute, stating that it did not investigate, mediate or adjudicate any land dispute involving the parties.
“At no point did the Command investigate, mediate or adjudicate any land dispute involving the parties in question, nor did the Commissioner of Police demand or receive ₦700,000 from any of the families as alleged,” the police said.
The Command said the two men could not produce evidence of the payment during interrogation.
“They could neither identify any person to whom the alleged money was paid nor provide any credible fact or material evidence capable of substantiating the serious allegations they published against the Commissioner of Police and the Command,” the statement added.
The police said it would continue to respect the right of members of the public to raise concerns through lawful channels but would take legal action over publications it considers false or malicious.