Police in Nigeria’s southeastern Imo state have arrested a traditional ruler in the state for allegedly sharing a social media post allegedly against Governor Hope Uzodinma.
The monarch, Ekene Obinali from Umucheke, Umuobom, a community in the South Local Government Area of Ideato state, was arrested by police Anti-Kidnapping Unit operatives in the state, PREMIUM TIMES has learned.
He was accused of sharing an article that was said to be critical of the governor on a WhatsApp platform.
The embattled traditional ruler had shared the article on March 20 on a WhatsApp group platform known as ‘Ideato Voice,’ said a member of the WhatsApp group, who asked not to be named due to the sensitive nature of the case. this newspaper.
The administrator of the WhatsApp platform, Vitus Ezenwa, confirmed this Friday to journalists the arrest of the monarch.
Ezenwa, editor of a local newspaper in the state, said the traditional ruler was arrested and detained by police on Wednesday.
The WhatsApp group administrator said that the police arrested him (Ezenwa) first and granted him bail before capturing the traditional ruler, who allegedly shared the post on the platform.
The post in question was titled “Governor Hope Uzodinma in a new scandal.” It focused on the alleged role played by an assassinated All Progressive Congress (APC) chief, Ahmed Gulak, in the 2018 APC gubernatorial primary election in Imo State, which was won by Mr. Uzodinma.
Mr. Gulak, a former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, was the chairman of the panel that conducted the primary.
He was shot and killed by gunmen in Owerri Imo State on May 30, 2021.
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Imo police spokesman Henry Okoye confirmed the monarch’s arrest to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday.
“Yes. He (Obinali) is being investigated for cyber bullying,” said Okoye, deputy superintendent of police.
“Further developments will be communicated to the general public,” he added.