The Imo State Police Command has arraigned Chinedu Agu, a lawyer and activist, following his criticism of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration.
Agu was arrested on Tuesday by detectives of the Inspector General of Police’s X-Squad Unit in Owerri and brought before a Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Spokesperson for the command, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed the development, saying Agu faced charges of cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civil disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
“The arraignment was carried out in accordance with the rule of law and with due respect for his fundamental human rights,” Okoye told journalists.
Agu’s arrest came shortly after he posted on X that he was due at the police headquarters on Tuesday over a petition accusing him of criminal defamation against the governor.
“My bail return date with the @PoliceNG is today at 1 pm, over the petition from the fictitious body alleging criminal defamation of the governor of Imo State and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace,” he wrote at 5:52 am.
Later that night, rights lawyer and academic Chidi Odinkalu disclosed on X that Agu had been taken into custody, alleging that his detention was instigated by the state’s commissioner for information, Declan Emelumba.
According to Okoye, the lawyer was unable to substantiate this claim during questioning.
“This is just one out of many misleading reports he had circulated. After investigation, in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, he was arraigned in court this morning,” the police spokesperson said.
FIJ reports that Agu had earlier received a police invitation letter dated September 12, directing him to appear at the state command headquarters over a petition allegedly filed by the Ministry of Information.
The petition accused him of publishing inciting articles, including ‘Imo State – Where Justice Is on Vacation During Court Vacation’ and ‘Tears from Enugu: A Lawyer’s Heartbreaking Diary from a State That Works to a State in Ruins’.
In response, Agu insisted that his statements were factual and did not amount to defamation or incitement.
He highlighted issues such as the absence of an acting Chief Judge, lack of vacation courts, and poor road infrastructure within Owerri.
He also criticised the validity of Tiger Base, a controversial police unit, citing reports from human rights organisations and discussions at the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual Conference in Enugu.
Agu maintained that none of his articles contained calls for insurrection and challenged the police to prove otherwise.
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