Comrade Nweke Nnamdi Samuel popularly known as iPlanner calls on creators to dump fake news For educational content, right now, Anambra’s digital landscape is moving at a frantic pace, opening up massive windows of expression and turning ordinary neighborhood creators into global brands. But let’s be real for a minute, this sudden digital boom has brought a very ugly side with it.
IPlanner, the mind driving Obizi Parrot, has been leading a serious campaign against this rot. As a digital advocacy resource in Anambra, Obizi Parrot is pulling creators, influencers, and media entrepreneurs away from the volatile world of “gbo-gbo-gbo” gossip. The goal is simple: stop chasing cheap clicks and start building actual, long-term digital assets through structured education and community growth.
Right now, too many publishers have fallen into a desperate trap where they rely on pure fabrications, character assassination, and calculated online blackmail (aka-azụ) just to keep their heads above water. They are sacrificing their integrity for cheap ad revenue.
We just saw a textbook example of how dangerous this path is right here in Anambra State. Ejike Ofoegbu, the face behind Igbo Times Magazine and INews, recently landed in hot water (ọkụ). The young man openly confessed to inventing total lies against the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (C.C. Soludo), and his son, Ozonna.
Ofoegbu didn’t just exaggerate; he cooked up a whole script from thin air, claiming the governor had disowned his son and that the boy was constantly insulting his parents. When the law caught up with him, his defense was incredibly weak: he claimed he only did it to drive traffic, blow up his comment section, and cash out from ad networks.
Even though he quickly put up an “unconditional apology” and pulled down the articles, the damage was already done. The Anambra State Government moved swiftly, dragging him straight to the Magistrate Court on serious criminal defamation and cybercrime charges.
If you think this is just another regular internet gist that will die down, you are getting it all wrong. This situation is a massive kpọtọkpọtọ warning sign for every single blogger, writer, and influencer in Nigeria.
The days when people could sit behind a screen, lie without consequences, and walk away free are officially over. It is time we launch a brutal campaign against fake news, especially here in Anambra. Blogging was originally meant to inform and enlighten, not to ruin people’s reputations just for a few dollars (ego).
Many upcoming publishers still foolishly believe the internet is a lawless jungle where nobody can touch them. But the truth is out now: the Nigerian legal system has developed very sharp teeth, and the government is ready to bite down hard to clean up the space.
The Grim Legal Reality Facing Bloggers
If you are one of those people using your platform to intimidate others or spread false narratives to boost your insights, you need to go read the Cybercrimes Act carefully.
Understanding Section 24(1)(b)
Under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, if you intentionally send out any post or message through a computer network that you know is totally false just to cause trouble, stir up panic, or threaten lives, you are playing with a heavy federal offense.
We aren’t talking about a simple slap on the wrist or a minor fine here. Depending on how much chaos your fake story triggers, a judge can hand you a massive fine running into millions of Naira or lock you up in a federal correctional facility.
The Weight of the Criminal Code Act
And don’t think you can escape by dodging federal cyber laws, because the traditional Criminal Code is waiting for you at the state level. Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act states that publishing defamatory material to hurt someone’s name carries a one-year prison sentence. If the court proves you knew the story was a lie right from the moment you started typing it, that sentence doubles to two years.
Think about that before you hit publish. When you intentionally manufacture a story just to boost your page views and milk ad clicks, you fit that criminal description perfectly. Dropping a quick “Disclaimer” or deleting the post when things get hot won’t save you. The crime is stamped the moment the post goes live, and the police can lock you up regardless of how many apologies you pin to your page.
The Poisonous Hustle for Cheap Traffic
The biggest issue right now is how digital content creation has been twisted into an extortion racket. It is killing the industry. Too many young kids see blogging as an overnight “Ofe Ndụ” wealth scheme rather than a legitimate profession. They are completely blinded by numbers.
Look at how the trap works:
- You spend days writing a solid, deeply researched piece on agriculture in Omambala, tech developments in Awka, or the resilience of traders in the Onitsha Main Market. That brilliant piece struggles to even hit 500 views.
- Then, you throw up one crazy, toxic, fake headline about a top politician or celebrity, and bam, 50,000 views in an hour.
That is exactly where many creators lose their souls. They take the easy route and turn their platforms into weapons.
Some even cross over into proper felony. They intentionally write nasty drafts or threaten to leak scandalous rumors, hoping the victim will pay them off to keep quiet. Let’s call a spade a spade: that is pure blackmail, not journalism. And as Ofoegbu’s current reality proves, no amount of short-term Google AdSense money or temporary Facebook clout will save you when the state brings a criminal case against you.
Ditching the Predatory Path for Real Value
We cannot build a healthy digital space if we keep feeding our community a steady diet of toxic lies and manufactured anger. If we want corporate brands to respect us and pay for our services, we must completely abandon predatory publishing.
The Dead-End of Predatory Blogging
Predatory blogging is a complete dead end. It thrives on fake controversies, clickbait, and hostile, angry traffic. The final destination for that model is always predictable: endless lawsuits, police arrests, and public shame.
The Lifeline of Value-Driven Blogging
On the other hand, value driven blogging is where real, generational wealth hides. When you put in the work to research, verify facts, and build a niche around educational content that solves actual everyday problems, you win something rare: audience trust. That deep trust is exactly what brings massive corporate sponsorships and clean, high-paying advertising deals your way.
Anambra State isn’t called the Light of the Nation by accident. We have a proud history of intellectual excellence, massive commercial drive, and deep respect for our cultural values. Letting reckless, fake news blogs represent our online voice is a massive insult to who we are.
How We Clean Up the Space
As digital creators, the cleanup has to start with us. If you manage any online platform or social media handle, you need to set up a strict verification process today.
1. Verify Before Publishing
When someone drops a hot, unverified rumor in your WhatsApp group, do not just copy, paste, and broadcast it to the world. Dig for the source. Speak to the people involved. Check if reputable media outlets are reporting it. If you cannot back it up with hard facts, leave it inside your drafts.
2. Focus on Educational and Functional Content
We also need a massive shift toward educational and functional content. Look around the world the most profitable blogs don’t deal in cheap gossip. They focus on tech guides, financial literacy, real estate, culture, and business breakdowns. That kind of content stays relevant for years, dominates search engines, and attracts high-end corporate clients who wouldn’t dare touch a toxic gossip site.
3. Stop the Copy and Paste Culture
Most importantly, stop the reckless copy-and-paste culture. Under Nigerian law, if you republish a defamatory post, you carry the exact same legal liability as the person who invented the lie in the first place.
Let Ejike Ofoegbu’s current ordeal serve as the ultimate wake-up call. Your platform is a powerful tool. It can educate a whole generation, boost our local economy, and put Anambra on the global map for the right reasons. Do not cheapen your hustle by turning your page into a tool for digital extortion. Focus on delivering real value, build a legacy you can be proud of, and stay completely out of police case files.
Here at Obizi Parrot, we practice exactly what we preach. We focus on practical, everyday value that helps regular people navigate life smoothly, like providing accurate, step by step guides on how to secure your National Identification Number (NIN), register for your Voter’s Card (PVC), access local government programs, and pick up genuine digital skills. Let’s work together to build a clean, respected, and highly valuable digital ecosystem.
