Again, Ebonyi PDP chieftain docked, as APC accuses opposition of ‘fanning embers of war’

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ebonyi, Nwoba Chika Nwoba was on Thursday re-arraigned before a Magistrate court sitting in Abakaliki, the state capital, for publishing materials on his Facebook page against the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Ogah.

This is coming barely 24 hours after Mr Nwoba was arraigned at a Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki on Wednesday for spreading ‘false information’ on his Facebook page against the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi. 

On Mr Nwoba vs Umahi, he was slammed with a 15-count charge and remanded after the presiding Magistrate ruled that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The matter was adjourned till February 4, 2022 for report of progress.

But surprisingly, Nwoba was brought to court again on Thursday over an action instituted against him by the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South federal constituency, Hon Chinedu Ogah.

He was again slammed with a 6-count charge bothering on false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public.

The charges said the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in his Facebook posts, portrayed Hon. Chinedu Ogah as insignificant and unfit to be a House of Representatives’ member, portrayed him as greedy and corrupt, portrayed him as terrorist, land grabber, deceiver, timid and non-achiever which is causing annoyance, inconvenience and insult to the federal lawmaker.

After the six-count charges were read before the defendant, his counsel, Luke Nkwegu urged the Court to strike out the charges against Nwoba.

He averred that the charges were brought against Nwoba by the police in bad faith to keep him behind bars.

Nkwegu argued that the Cybercrimes Prohibition Law of the state upon which Nwoba was being tried, was not gazetted and that ungazetted law was not a law and prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.

But the Police Prosecutor, ASP Mathias Eze opposed Nkwegu and urged the court to remand Nwoba.

“We submit that the validity of a law enacted by an act of parliament, however, it may be determined by the assent of the Governor or President”, he told the court.

Ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Blessing Chukwu said the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter and ordered that the suspect be remanded in police custody in line with Covid-19 protocol.

She ordered that the case file be transmitted to the State Attorney General, Department of Police Prosecution and adjourned the matter to February 4,2022.

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has accused the PDP of fanning the embers of war by supporting undemocratic tendencies being exhibited by some its members.

State APC chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, made the accusation while reacting to a statement credited to the PDP on the declaration of former member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the PDP, Hon Linus Okorie, wanted by Ebonyi State government for allegedly making ‘inciting publications’ on Facebook.

Emegha noted that the Governor only directed the police and other security agencies to declare him wanted for the malicious social media publication he made that led to loss of live among other valuables in Ikwo local government Area recently.

“Remember that state Governors are the Chief Security Officers of their various states. On this premise, it is incumbent on them to devise lawful means in a very proactive and reasonable manner to ensure that the oath of securing the lives and property of their citizens he took is not in anyway jeopardised”.

“When the former member who represented Ohanivo Federal constituency between 2011 and 2019 at the National Assembly, Mr Linus Okorie made an inciting Facebook publication which constituted a security breach that led to loss of live among other valuables despite his supposedly enlightened position in the society. Do you expect the Governor to fold his arms and watch crisis engulf the state? Your guess is as good as mine in this scenario.

“The dying PDP should go and learn how to be in opposition, rather pose itself as a threat to our democracy which has endured. They should also understand that   no one, no matter how highly placed, has immunity against violence. When it erupts, it consumes everything along its paths. They shouldn’t throw caution to the wind”.

According to the State APC boss who doubles as the Special Security Consultant to Ebonyi State Government, he reiterated that fake news and hate speeches are worse than the unknown gunmen as they infuriate and spark up people to go into war against themselves for no justifiable reason.

Emegha noted that the Ebonyi State Cybercrime law 2021 would not be a toothless bulldog while unscrupulous elements on rampage causing innocent and law abiding citizens unnecessary inconveniences under the present administration led by Governor David Umahi.

“I therefore, charge the ranting PDP to stay put and watch the law take its full course on the matter. No one should be afraid of the law because its implementation is aimed at bringing sanity to the entire society by assuaging defamatory publications,” he concluded.