POLICE ARREST NONSONKWA FOR CYBER STALKING, OTHER OFFENSES, AS JOURNALISTS ASKS FOR HIS RIGHTS

 

Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested Mr. Chinonso Uba (Nonsonkwa) on October 20, 2024, following a written petition from a concerned citizen regarding viral videos, where he engaged in Cyberstalking, Character Defamation, spreading misinformation and inflammatory statements related to the burning of the National Open University (NOUN) Study Center in Nsu, Ehime Mbano LGA, on September 30, 2024 and inciting civil unrest. 

The Command clarifies that he was not abducted. Nonsonkwa is currently detained at State Headquarters and will be arraigned in court with appropriate charges once a comprehensive investigation is completed. 

The Command remains committed to upholding the rule of law and maintaining peace and order in the state, emphasizing that no individual involved in the tragic attack and burning of the NOUN study center will escape full legal consequences. 

Meanwhile, an activist journalist, Chidiebube Okeoma, has urged the leadership of the police in Imo state to This is another win for NonsoNkwa. He will come out stronger. We can’t be bullied into submission in this state. We will continue to speak truth to power. The constitution recognizes journalists as the watchdogs of the society. of ace broadcast journalist and human rights defender, Chinonso Uba, popularly known as NonsoNkwa the constitutional rights of an ace broadcast journalist and human rights defender, Chinonso Uba but popularly known as NonsoNkwa.

NonsoNkwa was arrested on Sunday evening in Owerri, the Imo State capital by some operatives of the police in the state.

A statement by the Police Spokesperson in the state, Henry Okoye, in Owerri, on Monday, disclosed that NonsoNkwa was arrested for alleged cyberstalking, character defamation, misinformation and civic unrest, following a petition to the police by  an unnamed person.

Reacting, Okeoma, condemned the way and manner the ace broadcast journalist was arrested, fueling speculation that he was abducted by criminals.

Okeoma also advised the police to ensure that NonsoNkwa's rights are not violated while in their custody and he shouldn't be held longer than necessary before arraigning him.

Okeoma said" firstly, I condemn the way and manner Chinonso Uba was arrested in Owerri on Sunday. The unprofessional process fuelled speculation that he was kidnapped and people went to town with such misinformation, thereby escalating the security status of the state.

"As a law abiding institution, the police ought to had extended an invitation to him since the media unit of the command says that an unnamed individual wrote a petition against him.

"While it is part of the constitutional responsibilities of the police to arrest and investigate issues and people, I call on the police to respect NonsoNkwa's constitutional and civic rights while in their custody.

"NonsoNkwa should be given maximum access to his lawyers, family members and his colleagues. He shouldn't also be held longer than necessary before arraigning him. Doing so will be against his rights and privileges as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"This will be another win for NonsoNkwa. He will come out stronger. Journalists can’t be bullied into submission in this state or any other state of the federation. Journalists will continue to speak truth to power. The constitution recognizes journalists as the watchdogs of the society."