Enugu Influencer Detained 50 Days Over Alleged Cyberbullying by Police

Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, a social media influencer based in Enugu State, has fulfilled his bail conditions and was released from the Enugu Maximum Security Custodial Centre on Wednesday, after 50 days in detention.

An Enugu Magistrate’s Court had ordered his remand on January 27 following his arraignment over an allegation of cyberbullying against him by the Commissioner of Police in the state.

Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and former presidential candidate, who has been involved in securing Ugwuanyi’s freedom, announced his release on Wednesday.

He said Ugwuanyi “has finally left prison after meeting his bail conditions”.

“Shame on the Enugu State Government led by Governor Peter Mba, the SSG, and the Nigeria Police Force, whose connivance kept him abandoned in detention for far too long,” Sowore added.

Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the Enugu State Government, was the nominal complainant in the case.

Checks on the influencer’s Facebook timeline showed that he posted on Facebook on January 15, saying, “Let Us Remember This Quote By SSG Enugu State”.

“Some people are meant to be used to win elections while some are meant to be given appointments and political dividends.” Prof Chidiebere Onyia SSG Enugu State.

The police claimed that the post amounted to “cyberbullying/stalking” against the politician and it was referenced in a one-count charge preferred against him, arguing that it was “contrary to Section 24(2)(a)(b) and punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2015 (as amended 2024)”.

Before his arraignment, Ugwuanyi had narrated how the police invited him over a petition from Onyia, hinting at premeditated criminal charges.

“I will be #Arrested tomorrow but no tension,” he wrote on Facebook on January 25.

“Yesterday evening, a call [came] from a police officer working at state #CID Enugu, [he] called me and introduced himself as CSP #Kevin_Achum (Ogbuefi).

“He said are you Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, I said yes. He said we are suppose[d] to arrest you on or before Monday but kindly report yourself at state #CID Enugu by 10 am on Monday, 26th January.”

He added that he was directed to report to a deputy commissioner of police at the Enugu State Police Command’s Criminal Investigation Department and “I should be prepared that I will be detained”.

He said the officer refused to disclose what his offence was on the phone. In compliance with the invitation, he went to the station and he was later charged in court.

After the court session, Frank Agbowo, his lawyer, commented that he was arraigned on a non-bailable ground.

“Regardless of our submissions pursuant to sections 88 sub b,225 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Enugu State 2017 and other relevant laws we cited, including case laws which empowered the magistrate to grant bail in this kind of charge, the magistrate went ahead to remand him in prison,” Agbowo wrote.

“We didn’t expect otherwise, but this one too will surely pass. Thank you all for standing for the cause of justice.”

Agbowo also confirmed Uguwuanyi’s release in a separate post on Wednesday.