A Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, has ordered Janny Linda Ozochi remanded at the Umuahia Correctional Centre. She’s facing a defamation suit linked to alleged cyberbullying of Promise Uzoma Okoro, popularly called PUO, and his mother.
Ozochi pleaded not guilty to the four charges. But prosecutor CC Nwaobilor told the court she had jumped bail before, and asked for her to be remanded. Her lawyer, Prof. Hagler Okorie, pleaded for the court to release her to him instead. The judge refused, saying that privilege is often abused.
The case was adjourned to Thursday, June 4, 2026.
What led to the case
PUO’s lawyers, LADU N. MARTINS & CO, had earlier sent Ozochi a N100m demand notice dated May 5, 2026. They accused her of using her Facebook page, with over 13,000 followers, to post defamatory content about PUO and his mother.
According to the letter, Ozochi called PUO “a manipulator, backstabber, gossiper, betrayer, liar and opportunist”. She also allegedly wrote that “PUO is a son of a mad woman”.
PUO is a journalist, former Deputy Chairman of Bende LGA, Chairman of OMPAN Abia, and PRO of NIPR Abia. He’s also seeking the Labour Party ticket for Bende State Constituency.
His legal team said the posts damaged his reputation. They claimed some associates and clients cut ties with him after the publications. The lawyers demanded she pull down the posts, publish apologies in two national dailies, issue a video apology to PUO’s mother, Mrs Oyidiya Okoro, and pay N100m in damages. They warned that failure to comply within 7 days would lead to court action.