A court in Anambra State has remanded Ejike Ofoegbu, the alleged owner and publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and iNews, over allegations of publishing false and defamatory reports concerning the family of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

Ofoegbu was arraigned on Sunday, July 13, by the Anambra State Police Command following investigations into a petition alleging that he circulated fabricated information capable of damaging the reputation of the governor and his family.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the suspect was transferred to the command by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Awka before the completion of police investigations.

Ikenga said the case stemmed from a series of social media posts in which Ofoegbu allegedly attributed false statements to Governor Soludo and his son, Ozonna.

“The arraignment followed the Command's receipt of the suspect from the Department of State Services, Awka, and the conclusion of Police investigations into a petition alleging the publication of false information capable of causing reputational harm and inciting public disaffection,” Ikenga said.

According to the police, one of the posts falsely quoted the governor as saying: *“I will arrest anyone who calls Ozo my son. He is not my son. I disowned him years ago, and he is no longer a member of the Soludo family.”*

Other publications allegedly attributed controversial remarks to Ozonna Soludo and included satirical claims suggesting he was “Chinese-made” and “ordered from Temu,” statements the authorities described as fabricated and defamatory.

Police said the publications were widely circulated on social media and formed the basis of the charges filed against the defendant.

However, Ofoegbu has since retracted the statements and issued a public apology to Governor Soludo.

“The suspect has since withdrawn the publications and tendered a public apology to the governor,” a police source familiar with the case said.

Following his arraignment, the court ordered that Ofoegbu be remanded in a correctional centre pending further proceedings.

Ikenga confirmed the development, stating: “The suspect has been remanded in a correctional centre in the state by the court.”

The case has been adjourned to a later date for continuation of legal proceedings.