Southeast Governor's Ex-aide Arrested for Spreading Fake News, Slumps on Arraignment
- Governor David Umahi’s former media aide, Godfrey Chikwere has been arrested for allegedly spreading fake news
- According to reports, Chikwere reportedly shared a post on his social media page regarding the Nigerian Army and the politicians
- His post generated reactions and the media aide was nabbed by the police, arraigned in court but reportedly slumped and rushed to the hospital afterwards
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Ebonyi state- A former media aide to Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state, Godfrey Chikwere, has been arrested for allegedly spreading fake news and hate speech.
The Punch reports that Chikwere reportedly made a post on his Facebook account that the Nigerian Army had lost self-respect and that politicians were the ones behind killings and would be the ones to give victims’ families money to startup businesses, in the state.
The post later generated reactions online and was read on several social media platforms. It was reported that on Sunday, October 10, the commissioner for information and orientation in the state, Uchenna Orji, was behind his arrest.
Source: Facebook
The former governor’s aide, popularly known as Baby Mouth, who was arrested and detained by the police following a petition by an Ebonyi state government official, slumped on Monday, October 11, at the facility where he is being detained, Premium Times also reported.
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Legit.ng gathered that he was to be arraigned in court on Monday, by the Police but reportedly slumped at the Command’s Headquarters, as a result of ill-health.
The suspect is reportedly at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, receiving treatment.
His wife, Onyinyechi, confirmed his ill-health to journalists, in Abakaliki, on Monday, October 11.
According to her:
“My husband started falling sick, on Sunday night, when he was in the Police station. So, it became worst and the Police clinic couldn’t handle it. He has been at AE-FETHA, since morning.
“They (Police) couldn’t diagnosed anything at the Police clinic but he was in serious health crisis. So, now we are at AE-FETHA. From the explanations on ground now, what is wrong with him is acute Appendictis. But I don’t know yet.”
When contacted, police public relations officer, Loveth Odah, said she was not aware that the suspect was at AE-FUTHA, for treatment.
In his reaction, Orji said the suspect was neither a journalist known by the state government nor the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Orji observed that the suspect was one of those spreading fake news and hate speeches across the state, adding that the government was tracking those perpetrating such acts.
The commissioner said:
“My attention has been drawn to the publications in the social media that the Office of the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, in Ebonyi State, caused the arrest and detention of a journalist in the state.
“I want to use this medium to categorically state that the person being referred to as Godfrey Chikwere is not a journalist known in Ebonyi State. I had to confirm from the NUJ and they clearly stated that he is not a journalist.
“But the truth of the matter is that the Ministry of Information and Orientation in Ebonyi State, in keeping with its mandate of ensuring the orientation of the people against all forms of bad habits, and in keeping with its duty of sensitising the people and ensuring the implementation of Ebonyi State law on Cybercrime Prohibition (012) 2021, we had to swing into action by ensuring that we track all persons spreading fake news.
“Incidentally, this Godfrey Chikwere, happens to be one of those found to be in the habit of posting fake information and also spreading hate-speech.”
Southeast Governors revive Ebubeagu over killings, violence in Igboland
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that Southeast governors and leaders on Tuesday, October 5 announced measures to end the rising violence and sit-at-home on Mondays in the region.
It was gathered that the measures include the launch of the Ebubeagu security outfit by the five states in the region before the end of the year.
Other measures include engagement with the federal government for amicable settlement of all issues agitating the minds of the people, especially the youth.
Olisa Metuh's stance on southeast agitations
In another development, the former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has urged southeast governors to demand the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The former PDP scribe specifically asked that the governors demand for the release of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra leader who is currently in detention.
The southeast governors, however, failed to mention Kanu in their deliberations and subsequent communique, Legit.ng gathered.
Source: Legit.ng
