Okoye Blessing Nwakego, the TikToker who had been charged with cyberstalking and defamation for accusing actress Eniola Badmus of being a pimp, narrowly avoided imprisonment by paying a fine of N150,000, as ruled by a federal high court in Lagos.
Earlier reports from LIB had stated that Nwakego was arraigned on two-count charges related to cyberstalking. It was alleged that she conspired with one Chimabia, who is currently at large, to commit cyberstalking between December 2022 and July 2023 in Lagos, which is an offence punishable under section 27 of the cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, etc) act 2015.
Furthermore, she was accused of knowingly transmitting offensive communication that could lead to danger, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, and needless anxiety towards the actress.
After her trial, a federal high court found Nwakego guilty of the charges against her on Wednesday, August 2. She was handed a one-year imprisonment sentence with the option of a N50,000 fine for count one and a two-year imprisonment sentence with the option of a N100,000 fine for count two. The court ordered the terms of the fines to be consecutive, while the imprisonment terms would run concurrently.
To avoid serving time in jail, Nwakego has paid the fine imposed on her following her conviction. This outcome marks the end of a legal battle that had attracted considerable attention and concern from both the public and the entertainment industry.
