Ebonyi Slams 15-count Charge On PDP Spokesperson

The Ebonyi Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Nwoba Chika Nwoba has been slammed with a 15- count charge and arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki, the state capital for alleged publication of false information.

The publications, the prosecution, said were made against Governor David Umahi on his (Nwoba’s) facebook handle.

He was also accused of publishing materials capable of disturbing public peace.

The offence, according to the charges against him, was punishable under section 4 of the state cybercrimes (Prohibition Law No. 012 of 2021.

Nwoba was arrested three weeks by Ebonyi Command of Ebubeagu Security Network and handed to the police for prosecution which sparked off outcry by his party.

He was to be arraigned three weeks ago but slumped in court.

The court ordered that he should be taken to medical facility for medical attention after which he will face the charges preferred against him.

On Wednesday, he was arraigned and remanded by the Magistrate court presided over by Blessing Chukwu.

Nwoba, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court ruled that it has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter and ordered that Nwoba be remanded in police custody, undergo Covid-19 test and taken to Correctional Service Centre.

The Court adjourned the matter to February 4 for report of compliance and ordered that the case file be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution.

Nwoba’s counsel, Luke Nkwegu had argued before the court that the state cybercrimes Prohibition Law upon which Nwoba was being tried has not been gazetted and prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.

He told journalists that the next line of action was to utilise the provisions of the law to get Nwoba out which he said starts immediately.

Chairman of Ebonyi PDP, Tochukwu Okorie, condemned the continued detention of Nwoba.

He also condemned the manner of his arrest by Ebubeagu security operatives.

He said: “It is no longer news that Ebonyi State government, in gestapo style unleashed violence on Nwoba and subsequently brutally abducted him.

“Comrade Nwoba was tortured and eventually blinded in one eye and as if that was not enough, the government colluded with the Nigeria Police, Ebonyi State Command to drag Comrade Nwoba who was at the point of death to a kangaroo court in Abakaliki even when Comrade Nwoba was unable to stand or sit”.