The Imo State Union of Journalists (NUJ), under the leadership of Precious Nwadike, has asked the police to release Chinonso Uba (NonsNkwa) or charge him in Court.
Recall that the Imo police command on Monday confirmed the arrest of Mr. Uba over alleged misinformation, cyberstalking, and incitement, following a petition by a concerned citizen.
The police spokesperson in State, Henry Okoye, said Mr Uba would be charged after a thorough investigation by the command.
In a statement signed by the NUJ chairman Precious Nwadike on Tuesday, the Union asked the Imo State Police Command to toe the path of honor, integrity, and professionalism by either charging Nonsonkwa to court immediately or releasing him on bail without further delay.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Imo State Council has been drawn to the Gestapo-style arrest and detention of radio presenter and activist, Mr. Chononso Uba otherwise known as Nonsonkwa, by the operatives of the Imo State Police Command on October 20, 2024.
“According to a release by the command and made available to the NUJ, the police insist that Nonsonkwa’s arrest was in response to a petition signed by a faceless group it simply identified as “Concerned Citizens” accusing Nonsonkwa of 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, inciting civil unrest.
“In the light of the above, we, the members of Imo State NUJ, fervently ask the Imo State Police Command to toe the path of honor, integrity, and professionalism by either charging Nonsonkwa to court immediately or releasing him on bail without further delay.
“This is so because the command has clarified that the activist was not abducted as widely reported.
The command conceded that Nonsonkwa is currently being detained at the State Police Headquarters and will be arraigned in court with appropriate charges once a ‘comprehensive investigation is completed’.
The Imo NUJ noted that by the stipulations of the law, Nonsonkwa is not supposed to be detained beyond 48 hours before being charged to court, and it is on this premise, that we urge the Imo Police Command to be more professional in the handling of the Nonsonkwa affair and avoid anything that may portray the Police as seeking to repress divergent opinions from the civil populace.
