IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Nigerians have reacted to a press release issued by the Nigeria Police Force on the arrest of Chude Nnamdi, an ardent supporter of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The press release titled “CHUDE NNAMDI IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR CYBERSTALKING – POLICE” was released on 22 March, 2023, four days after his arrest.
The press release reads: “The Nigeria Police hereby confirms that one Mr. Chude Franklin Nnamdi with Twitter handle ‘@chude__’ was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State on the 18th of March, 2023, and he is being investigated by the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) Abuja, for cyberstalking, pursuant to a complaint received via a petition, about his activities on social media which contravenes the provision of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and other criminal laws.
“Furthermore, a prima facie case has been established against him while the case file has been forwarded to the Force Legal Department for further action.
“The Nigeria Police Force therefore urges members of the public to familiarize themselves with provisions of the law and be aware of the penalties for violating them most especially cybercrime laws with the new trends in the digital media space.
“CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA
22nd March, 2023″
One of the people who first reacted to the press statement tagged the young man’s arrest a “a double standard”.
@DrVic_Exotic said: “MC Oluomo who threatened Igbos before the gubernatorial elections in Lagos is walking free while @chude__ who raised an alarm regarding massive electoral malpractices in Anambra has been arrested. Say No to #DoubleStandards”
Public interest and human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said: “The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed yet again, that it is a tool of oppression and injustice. The police statement on the arrest of @chude__ is preposterous, ridiculous, vexatious and irresponsible. How do you detain a citizen for several days over a charge of cyberstalking?”
@chymaker on his part tweeted: “The section they relied in detaining him is ridiculous to say the least and a repressive regime tools. Very sad.”
@o_synthesis who also commented on the post, wrote: “Members of the public also urges the members of @PoliceNG to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the law and be aware of the consequences of violating them met especially the Constitutional Provisions On Fair Hearing (Section 36(1) and (4) of the 1999 constitution.”
@akenn007 shared screenshots of the Section 24 of the cybercrime laws, adding that Chude’s offense wasn’t stated in it.
“Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and other criminal laws. ‘ grossly offensive, pornographic, obscene or menacing character’ Pls did Chude perpetrate any of d above?”
Ola queried reason the law is still in use after being scraped in 2022 by ECOWAS.
“This same section was nullified by ECOWAS in 2022. Why should it still hold grounds?” he noted.
@AllegraFX1 tweeted: “@USinNigeria please ban all Police force senior leadership visas as they are susceptible to corruption and will spend their ill gotten wealth abroad. Lets contain the tyrants and ensure they don’t leave the borders of Nigeria. Also, ask them to release @chude__”
“This is no longer End SARS. This time we know you are officially an arm of APC. Shameless criminals in uniform. We don’t know any Boko Haram thugs you have arrested,” @joyphido1 lamented bitterly.