THE Magistrate Court sitting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has struck out two cases against a social critic in Cross River State, Mr Paul Ifere, known for his strong criticisms of the state governor, Ben Ayade. Ifere was charged to court for comments he made on Facebook and WhatsApp in 2017 at the Magistrate Court 1 in Calabar.
A four-count charge, two apiece in two separate charge sheets bordering on misdemeanor were brought against Ifere by the Commissioner of Police. The first charge sheet with numbers MC.1140C/2017 was about a Whatsapp message to one Goddy Akpama on August 17, 2017, which was said to be with intent to intimidate and threaten him and his reputation and was thereby an offence. The second count of the same charge also bordering on the same message to Goddy Akpama was for an offence of misdemeanor.