Imo police arrest monarch over anti-Uzodinma WhatsApp post
The operatives of the Imo State Police Command, have reportedly arrested a monarch, Ekene Obinali of Umucheke, Umuobom, a community in Ideato South Local Government Area of the state, over anti-Uzodinma WhatsApp post.
He was alleged of sharing a piece detractive of the governor on a WhatsApp platform dubbed, ‘Ideato Voice’ on March 20.
Premium Times reported that a member of the WhatsApp group, who preferred anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case made this known.
While speaking with journalists on Friday, the administrator of the WhatsApp platform, Vitus Ezenwa, confirmed the arrest of the monarch.
Mr Ezenwa, a publisher of a local newspaper in the state, disclosed that the traditional ruler was arrested and detained by the police on Wednesday.
The administrator of the WhatsApp group said the police arrested Ezenwa first and granted him bail before they picked up the traditional ruler again.
The post in question was titled, “Gov Hope Uzodinma in fresh scandal”. It focused on the alleged role played by a slain chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Ahmed Gulak in the 2018 APC governorship primary election in Imo State, which was won by Mr Uzodinma.
Mr Gulak, a former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, was the chairperson of the panel which conducted the primary and he was reportedly shot dead by gunmen in Owerri, Imo State on May 2021.
The state’s Police Publice Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed the arrest of the monarch on Friday.
Okoye said, “Yes. He (Obinali) is being investigated for cyberstalking.
“Further developments will be communicated to the general public,” he added.