The Imo State Police Command on Wednesday moved to arraign a lawyer and activist, Chinedu Agu, over allegations of cyberstalking Governor Hope Uzodimma, but the process was stalled at the Magistrate’s Court in Owerri due to the absence of a chief magistrate.

Agu was arrested on Tuesday by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police’s X-Squad Unit following a petition by a group known as the Imo Democratic Alliance, accusing him of publishing inciting articles against the governor.

Agu, a vocal critic of Uzodimma’s administration, has recently clashed with the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, in a series of public exchanges.

His articles, including “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,” drew sharp rebuttals from Emelumba, who described them as “satanic verses.”

Police spokesperson in Imo, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed the charges, saying they bordered on cyberstalking, defamation of character, incitement of civil disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

“The arraignment was carried out in accordance with the rule of law and with due respect for his fundamental human rights,” Okoye told journalists.

However, proceedings were not held on Wednesday as magistrates were said to be attending an official function. After several hours of waiting, the lawyers present were informed that no chief magistrate was available to hear the matter.

Chairman of the Eastern Bar Forum, Damian Nosike, told colleagues, “We have just been informed that there is no chief magistrate available for the charges to be preferred against our colleague, Chinedu Agu. The implication is that the police will take him back to their office and return him to court tomorrow.”

The court premises had been filled with lawyers who came in solidarity, including former NBA Owerri chairman, Stanley Imo (SAN), current branch chairman, Chris Ihentuge, and Nosike.

The lawyer alleged that the petition against him was politically motivated and sponsored through the Imo Democratic Alliance, which he claims is unregistered and lacks a traceable office.

He Is now expected to be arraigned on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

On September 10, 2025, PUNCH Online reported that a journalist in Kebbi State, Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa, was detained after releasing a video showing the poor conditions at Kangiwa General Hospital.

The footage, which circulated widely on social media, depicted patients lying on bare metal beds without mattresses, sparking public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the state’s healthcare system.

Activists and critics condemned the detention, accusing state authorities of attempting to silence reporting rather than address the systemic neglect highlighted by the video. (The PUNCH)