Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has pardoned the Bayelsa blogger and owner of Naija Live TV, Saint Mienpamo Onitsha, over report of a N7b COVID-19 Isolation Centre in Kogi State that was blown away by rainstorm.
The Kogi Government also withdrew the case of defamation filed against Onitsha at the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had arrested, detained and arraigned Onitsha last year before the Federal High Court, Yenagoa over alleged publication of the collapse of the N7b Isolation Centre at the Federal Medical Centre (fmc), Lokoja, Kogi State.
The DSS had insisted that investigation and arrest of the blogger showed that the publication was aimed at tarnishing Governor Bello’s image and incite members of the public against his administration.
But during yesterday’s sitting, Justice Abimbola Awogboro, struck out the case of defamation against Onisha based on Governor Bello’s request.
Onitsha had earlier apologised to the governor and people of Kogi State before the state government withdrew the case against him.
He commended the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo for come from Kogi to Yenagoa to ensure an end of the case.
