A Magistrate’s Court in Ebonyi State has ordered that a 24-year-old man, known as Prophet Ubadinma, be held in a correctional facility while facing serious charges including attempted murder, defamation, arson, malicious damage, and theft.
According to recent reports, the Ebonyi State Police Command brought Ubadinma before the Magistrates’ Court in Abakaliki on Monday, September 1, 2025. The alleged crimes occurred in various villages across the Izzi and Ikwo Local Government Areas between 2020 and 2025.
Court documents reveal that Prophet Ubadinma is accused of spreading false prophecies on social media. In one notable instance, he falsely identified an Ogun State businessman, Emeka Mgbore (also known as EmmyBest), as a ritualist. This allegation led to violent attacks in Ogun State, during which Mgbore’s shops were reportedly looted.
Ubadinma also allegedly made disparaging statements about Linus Uguru, Njoku Iziogo, and others from Izzi LGA, subjecting them to public ridicule.
During the hearing, his lead counsel, Barrister Emeka Anosike, petitioned the court to release his client on bail, contending that the offences were eligible for bail.
Opposing this, police prosecutor ASP Lilian Aliede underscored the gravity of the accusations and the harm inflicted on the complainants.
Referencing the Criminal Code, Cap. 33 of Ebonyi State, the prosecutor noted that defamation and related offences are covered under Sections 517 and 373(a), which carry significant penalties.
Magistrate Sandra Ifeanyi-Oyibe approved bail for the two defamation counts, setting the amount at ₦2 million per count. Each surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and present evidence of three years of tax clearance.
The Magistrate, however, declared her court does not have jurisdiction over the more severe charges of attempted murder, arson, theft, and malicious damage. These case files will instead be forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further action.
The case is scheduled to continue on September 15 and 16, 2025.
Details of the Charges
One of the court’s charges states: “That you, Ubadinma Nwebonyi ‘M’ and others now at large on the 28th day of July, 2025 at Offiauku village did defame the character of one Emeka Mgbore ‘M’ by verbally saying that he is a ritualist which you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 373(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33.”
Another charge reads: “That you, Ubadinma Nwebonyi ‘M’ and others now at large sometime in 2020 at Ochiohu Inyegu, did conspire to commit felony to wit: Attempted Murder/Malicious Damage/Stealing, contrary to Section 516A(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33.”
