Governor Umahi’s former Technical Assistant on Media, Godfrey Chikwere, has reportedly slumped on the day of his arraignment following his arrest and detention by the Ebonyi State Police Command over allegations of spreading fake news and hate speech, contradictory to Ebonyi State cybercrime prohibition law.
The former Governor’s aide, popularly known as Baby Mouth, was said to have been arrested on October 9, 2021.
This followed a petition by the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, to the Police Commissioner.
In the petition dated October 8, 2021, titled: “Report of publication of fake news, hate speech and incisive (sic) publication and cyber bullying by Godfrey Chikwere,” Orji accused Chikwere of spreading fake news against the military and politicians, which he said were inciting.
The Commissioner further alleged that Chikwere by the said publications has acted in violation of the Ebonyi State Cybercrimes (Prohibition) Laws No 012 of 2021 and urged the Police Commissioner to immediately arrest and prosecute Chikwere.
Part of Orji’s petition reads: “I write to inform your esteemed office as follows: that on 8th of October 2021 at about 14:44 hours, one Godfrey Chikwere with phone number 0806157**** did publish a fake news and incisive (sic) in facebook profile called Godfrey Chikwere and other media platforms and stated as follows: Nigerian Army is seriously and willingly losing respect.
“That on the same 8th of October 2021, Godfrey Chikwere in the Facebook profile made a dangerous and disturbing publication and stated as follows: they (politicians) can pay a youth to murder a perceived political enemy but they can’t (sic) give such youth money to start a business.
“That this false, fake and incisive(sic) publication is intended to cause fear, cyber bullying, riot, crisis and breach of the peace in the state.
“I urge your good offices to arrest and prosecute Godfrey Chikwere for publishing rumours and statements capable of causing fear and false alarm under section 4 of Ebonyi State Cybercrimes law of 2021.”
Meanwhile, the accused on Monday was said to have slumped at the Police Station, some minutes to his planned arraignment in court.
He was reportedly rushed to the Police Clinic at the State Command Headquarters for treatment and later referred to Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital as his condition worsened.
Moreover the Police Clinic was said to be inadequately equipped to offer him the required care.
Orji, while briefing newsmen on Monday, confirmed the arrest and detention, but denied any knowledge of his ill health and hospitalisation, stating that it was in social media that he learnt about that.
Orji stressed that those posts by Chikwere, who was also a former Programme Presenter in the State Broadcasting Corporation, constituted fake news, hate and incisive speeches that were capable of pitching the Army as well as government against the people.
He debunked some social media publications alleging that he ordered the arrest of a journalist, stating categorically that Chikwere was, and is not a journalist.
Orji said: “My attention has been drawn to social media posts and speculation that the office of the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ebonyi state caused the arrest and detention of a journalists in Ebonyi state.
“I want to use this opportunity and medium to categorically state that the person that is being referred to, Godffery Chikwere, is not a journalist known to Ebonyi state.
“I had to confirm from the NUJ and they clearly stated that he is not a journalist.
“But to talk about it, the Ministry of Information in keeping with its mandate of ensuring orientations of the people against all forms of of bad habits, and also in keeping with its duty of sensitizing the people and ensuring the implementation of the law we made, the Ebonyi state law on Cyber crime prohibition 2021 which is law 012 of 2021, we had to swing into action in ensuring that we track all persons that are spreading fake news either through publications or how so ever or any other means.
“Incidentally, this Godffery Chikwere happens to be one of those that we found to be in the habit of posting fake information and also spreading hate speech.
“As a matter of fact, Ebonyi state Government has passed a law on this and it is my duty as the Commissioner for Information to sensitize the members of the public and also ensure the implementation of those laws.
“And it happened that Godffery Chikwere is one of the persons that have been suspected in this regard.
“Let me mention that we have had two cases where people seen to be circulating fake information were arrested and quizzed.
“We have a case of a PA to a Vice Chancellor who was arrested, quizzed and was charged to court.
“So, the case of Godffery Chikwere cannot be treated exceptionally or separately.
“I want to enjoin members of the public to join us on the crusade against fake news and hate speech.
“It has been an evil wind that is doing us a lot of bad in the society.”
Attempts to hear from Chikwere on the matter was not successful as he was said not to be in good condition to speak to the press.
When contacted, the Police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Loveth Odah, declined comments on the grounds that she did not enough information at her disposal at that moment.
Odah confided that she needed to check him out up in the hospital to gather enough information on the matter.
Chikwere was one of the Umahi’s aides who resigned his appointment following Umahi’s defection to the All Progressives Congress.
Since then, he seemed to be at war paths with key players in Umahi’s APC government, having obviously been showing sympathy for the Peoples Democratic Party.
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