A lawyer in Imo State, Chinedu Agu, is facing charges of cyberstalking and defamation after publishing two sharply critical opinion pieces about Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration.
Police confirmed Agu would be arraigned before a magistrates’ court in Owerri on allegations of cyberstalking, incitement, defamation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
“He will be arraigned in accordance with the rule of law and with due respect for his fundamental human rights,” said DSP Henry Okoye, spokesman for the Imo State Police Command.
The arraignment was expected on Wednesday but was stalled after chief magistrates were unavailable due to an official function. Agu, who had honoured a police invitation the previous day, was arrested and returned to custody.
His arrest followed a petition by a group called the Imo Democratic Alliance, signed by Umukoro Marvis Udochukwu, accusing him of publishing inciting articles. Agu has dismissed the organisation as fictitious, alleging the petition was orchestrated by Imo’s Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, who had earlier written a rebuttal titled “Lawyer Agu’s satanic verses against Imo State.”
The Nigerian Bar Association mobilised in his defence, with senior lawyers including NBA Owerri chairman Chris Ihentuge, Eastern Bar Forum chairman Damian Nosike, and former NBA Owerri chair Stanley Imo (SAN) present at the court. After hours of waiting, they were told no magistrate was available.
Agu had recently written “Tears from Enugu: A lawyer’s heartbreaking diary from a state that works to a state in ruins” and “Imo State — where justice is on vacation during court vacation.” Both pieces went viral, drawing the ire of the state government.
A Federal High Court judge, Binta Nyako, had previously described lengthy suspensions of public figures as unconstitutional, highlighting broader concerns over citizens’ rights to expression. The case is expected to test the boundaries of free speech, political criticism, and press freedom in Imo State.
