The Nasarawa State Judicial Commission has demoted Emmanuel Jatau, a Chief Magistrate, following his involvement in a controversial case surrounding Chioma Okoli and the Nigeria Police Force.

In a letter dated January 6, 2025, the commission’s secretary, Yahaya Shafa, confirmed that Jatau has been downgraded from Chief Magistrate II (Grade Level 15) to Senior Magistrate I (Grade Level 14) and stripped of his magisterial duties.

The disciplinary action comes after Jatau issued arrest and remand warrants against Okoli, which were deemed “fraudulent” and outside his jurisdiction. Okoli had been accused of defamation for a Facebook post in which she claimed that Nagiko Tomato Mix, a product of Erisco Foods Limited, was excessively sugary. The company, led by CEO Eric Umeofia, denied the claim and filed a petition that led to Okoli’s arrest by the police.

She was subsequently arraigned on charges of conspiracy and cyberstalking, although she was granted bail after being remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre. Okoli’s miscarriage during her ordeal sparked public outrage, leading to calls for justice.

In response to Jatau’s actions, Inibehe Effiong, Okoli’s legal counsel, filed a petition against the magistrate, arguing that Jatau had overstepped his jurisdiction. Effiong pointed out that Okoli neither resides in Nasarawa State nor committed any alleged offenses there, and that charges related to cybercrime fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, as outlined in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

Effiong further accused Jatau of abusing his judicial authority, describing his actions as “brazen,” and called for an investigation into the matter.