By Ike Onyenweaku PHD
The current unfortunate distraction labeled as a Breaking News on the person of former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has come again to spotlight the concern by well-meaning people on the need to clean the media space of indecorous characters and practices
This is because the so-called Breaking News is an OUTRIGHT, VICIOUS LIE and a prime example of CHEAP, DANGEROUS POLITICS masquerading as journalism.
Indeed, there is absolutely NO CREDIBLE REPORT, OFFICIAL STATEMENT, OR JUDICIAL RECORD to support the claim that former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was sentenced to death by hanging, or that any court traced one trillion naira to his account in Australia.
The story is a fabrication that fails every test of basic fact-checking.
Again, the lie that a death sentence for a former Governor in a Nigerian High Court, especially for a financial crime, would be the top global news story.
Really, the monumental one trillion figure, the death sentence by hanging, the ‘Abia State High Court,’ and the named ., Justice Chukwuemeka Nwogu, are all invented elements designed to shock and spread.
In fact, every trace to track such information from official sources show zero mention of this alleged death sentence. This silence from every major news platform and official source confirms the story is a malicious hoax.
This is the height of Cheap Politics; this is nothing more than a gutter-level political attack. The timing and the sensational, unprecedented nature of the “verdict” are designed to smear the former governor’s name and sow discord, panic, and outrage among the populace for political gain.
It leverages public frustration with corruption to push a poisonous narrative. Those who publish and promote such stories demonstrate a profound contempt for truth and a destructive approach to public discourse.
The well thinking members of the public should rise to condemn it to avoid a wrong precedent, because this dangerous lie could set a terrible precedent.
It normalizes the use of outright fabrication to achieve political ends, effectively weaponizing the media and turning “news” into a tool for character assassination and destabilization.
It is an assault on public trust in credible journalism and the integrity of the judiciary. If such falsehoods are allowed to circulate unchallenged, the foundation of informed democratic participation is destroyed.
This malicious report must be condemned by all Nigerians as a cynical attempt to manipulate the public and should be unequivocally disregarded.
May the peddler of this monumental lie live long enough to witness the failure of their deceit.
Chief Ike Onyenwaku PHD
public affairs commentator
