Arrested Twitter user Chude under investigation – Police

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of one Chude Nnamdi with Twitter handle @chude__, who was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State on Saturday, March 18, 2023, The PUNCH reports.

The police also revealed that he is being investigated by the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre, Abuja, for cyber-stalking, over a petition about his activities on social media which contravenes the provision of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and other criminal laws.

Although the NPF did not reveal the identity of the petitioner, The PUNCH reports that several social media users had alleged that the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, was not unconnected with his arrest.

Meanwhile, the NPF urged members of the public to familiarize themselves with provisions of the law and be aware of the penalties for committing cybercrime, especially with the advent of the digital media space.

The force revealed that a prima facie case has been established against Chude, adding that his case file has been forwarded to the Force Legal Department for further action.

The PUNCH reports that Chude had, through his Twitter handle, alleged that thugs suspected to be working for the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance in Anambra, invaded some polling units in the state and snatched ballot boxes.

The tweep, who is known on Twitter for making several allegations against public office holders, had expressed his disappointment, saying the thugs disrupted the voting process in order to prevent their party from losing the State Assembly elections to a rival party.

In the tweet, Chude said, “I can’t remember the last time I heard of ballot box snatching in Anambra. This is the height of it; @CCSoludo has taken us back to Mbadinuju’s era.”

He was subsequently picked up by security operatives from Onitsha and transported to Awka’s State Criminal Investigative Department, where he was first detained on cybercrime charges.

But reacting to the development in a statement on Sunday, Governor Soludo, through his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, had claimed that Chude was arrested on Saturday in Anambra by the Cybercrime Unit of Interpol and taken to Abuja on Sunday.

He noted that the governor has no information about any specific allegations or basis for the arrest of the Twitter user.

The two-paragraph statement came with the caption, “Re: Arrest of one Mr Chude by the police.”

It read, “The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command has confirmed to the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, that one Mr Nnamdi Chude was arrested yesterday (18/03/23) in Anambra by the Cybercrime Unit of Interpol and taken to Abuja today (19/03/23).

“The Anambra State Government has no information about any specific allegations or basis of his arrest.”

Meanwhile, confirming his arrest and the allegation leveled against him in a statement obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said Chude was arrested for cyber-stalking.

Adejobi said, “The Nigeria Police hereby confirm that one Mr. Chude Nnamdi with Twitter handle ‘@chude__’ was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State on March 18, 2023, and he is being investigated by the NPF-NCCC Abuja, for cyber-stalking, pursuant to a complaint received via a petition, about his activities on social media which contravenes the provision of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and other criminal laws.

“Furthermore, a prima facie case has been established against him while the case file has been forwarded to the Force Legal Department for further action.

“The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, urges members of the public to familiarize themselves with provisions of the law and be aware of the penalties for violating them most especially cybercrime laws with the new trends in the digital media space.”

(Punch)