S’African activist imprisoned by court for 18 months for disparaging Anambra businessman

Boniface Okonkwo, an activist from South Africa, was given an 18-month prison sentence by the Anambra State High Court in Nnewi for disparaging industrialist Sir Emeka Offor.

Okonkwo was found guilty by the court, which was presided over by Justice Vincent Agbata, of inciting hatred on the Oraifite WhatsApp platform by calling Offor’s meter manufacturing company a “empty warehouse.”

After Offor filed a report, Okonkwo was arrested and incarcerated in January 2024, marking the beginning of his problems.

In the courtroom, Okonkwo reportedly made a phone call that connected him to the defamatory post via the Truecaller app as OVERHEAT, according to evidence provided by the prosecution.

In his ruling, Justice Agbata declared that there was enough evidence to convict him. He however offered Okonkwo an option of a N500,000 fine.

Agbata claims that there was no disagreement between Offor and Boniface over their shared Oraifite ancestry and membership in the same Oraifite WhatsApp group.

He added that it was customary for high-ranking officials, such as the Nigerian vice president, to attend a function in the Oraifite community, which is where the case’s origins lie.

“Trouble started when the defamatory publication appeared two days later,” the judge said.

He pointed out that Okonkwo had previously defended himself through his attorney on the grounds of reasonableness and justification, but he had since denied the defamatory publication completely.

SI Okonkwo, the defense attorney, responded to the ruling with conflicting emotions, saying that although he was disappointed with the result, he was glad the judge provided an alternative.

“The defense did a good job because the prosecution case which my Lord failed to go into, the person that owns the radio station and the meter factory said to be defamed was not Emeka Offor, but corporate bodies mentioned by the Director of the radio station,” he stated.

“He did not narrow the issue as to whether the defendant is the maker of the alleged defamatory statement,” SI Okonkwo added.

“Anyway, my Lord has rendered his decision and is a skilled judge. As attorneys, we have completed our portion and will choose the next course of action.

“We’ll go back to our table and review the verdict. However, since I didn’t anticipate the judgment, I’m undoubtedly unhappy with it. The only thing that makes me happy is that, despite his conviction, he offered him the chance to pay a fine.