Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
An Ebonyi State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Abakaliki has remanded a 24-year-old man, Nwebonyi Ubadinma, popularly known as Prophet Ubadinma, in a correctional facility over allegations of attempted murder, arson, stealing, malicious damage, and defamation of character.
The suspect, notorious for allegedly dishing out fake prophecies, was accused of committing the offences in different villages across Izzi and Ikwo Local Government Areas between 2020 and 2025.
According to the police, Ubadinma allegedly prophesied that an Ogun State-based businessman, Emeka Mgbore (popularly known as EmmyBest), was a ritualist. He was said to have circulated a video of the prophecy on social media, leading to mob attacks on Mgbore and the looting of his shops in Ogun State.
It was also alleged that his utterances exposed several individuals, including Linus Uguru and Njoku Iziogo, to public ridicule and defamation.
He was arraigned on four separate cases comprising 16 counts of attempted murder, arson, stealing, defamation, and malicious damage.
At the arraignment, defence counsel Emeka Anosike applied for bail, arguing that the offences were bailable. However, police prosecutor Mrs. Lilian Aliede opposed the application, insisting that the charges were serious and damaging to the complainants.
Magistrate Sandra Ifeanyi-Oyibe granted the accused bail on two cases bordering on defamation, fixing bail at ₦2 million each with two sureties resident within the court’s jurisdiction and with evidence of three years’ tax clearance. She adjourned those cases to September 15 and 16, 2025.
However, the court refused bail in two other cases involving attempted murder, arson, and malicious damage, citing lack of jurisdiction. The magistrate ordered that the files be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further action.
