Nollywood actress, Chioma Toplis, has been remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Afara, by a magistrates’ court sitting in Umuahia, Abia state for alleged defamation.

The 48-year-old film star was accused of cybercrime after she used her Facebook page to post what was described as “a malicious publication” against Uche Akwukwuegbu, chairman of Abia state traditional prime ministers council.

According to the charge sheet, marked 124c/2022, the actress was accused of using Facebook to tag Akwukwuegbu as a “rapist and ritualist.”

In the court document titled ‘Inspector General of Police vs Chioma Toplis ‘f’ aged 48’, the accused committed the alleged offence between May 28, 2021, and May 31, 2021.

The one-count read: “That you… maliciously published in your Facebook page ‘Chioma Topolis’ the following: ‘Ur rapist father invited his daughter-in-law (now ex) to Nigeria without his son’s consent and slept with her’.

“You equally called him a ritualist who used his last daughter as the sacrificial lamb of the family, hence she is perpetually sick and hidden in the house.

“A publication which you know to be false and intended to cause annoyance, inconveniences, danger, obstruction, enmity, hatred, ill-will or needless anxiety to the person of Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu.

“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(b)of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015, as applicable in Abia State.”

After reading the charge, there was no plea for bail.

Idika Kalu, the trial chief magistrate, ordered that the accused be remanded at the Afara Correctional Centre, Umuahia while the matter was adjourned to April 14, 2022.