Court denies Imo activist bail for suspected cyberstalking

A Magistrate Court sitting in Owerri on Wednesday has denied the bail application of the activist, Chinonso Uba, known as Nonsonkwa, who was remanded at the Owerri Correctional facility for his alleged involvement in cyberstalking, conspiracy, and character defamation among others.

The charges against him filed by N.S. Onwochie, Esq., Legal Prosecution Officer representing the Commissioner of Police, included five counts of conspiracy, treason, arson, cyberstalking, and character defamation.

The prosecution officer was represented by N.S. Onwochie, Esq., while the defence team comprised C.K. Mgbekonye, Esq., E.T. Okolie, Esq., F.N. Obisike, Esq., O.F. Olegeme, Esq., and E.N. Nwaibari, Esq.

Upon reading the charges, the court noted that the defendant would not be allowed to enter a plea, as it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
In response, Mgbekonye, leading the defence, applied for bail.

He argued that the court should grant him bail based on Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, emphasising that the nature of the offences allowed for judicial discretion in such matters.

The prosecution, however, strongly opposed the bail application. Onwochie cited Section 93(1) of the Imo State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, which grants only the High Court the authority to grant bail.
He urged the court to deny the bail application, reiterating that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain either the bail request or the charges.

Consequently, the court declined to grant bail and ordered the remand of the defendant at the Owerri Correctional Centre.

The court also advised the defence counsel of their right to seek bail for the defendant at the High Court.

The case has been adjourned to November 12, 2024, for the Director of Public Prosecutions’ report and the transmission of the case file.

On Sunday, operatives of the Imo State Police Command arrested Nonsonkwa following a written petition from a concerned citizen regarding viral videos, where he was said to have engaged in cyberstalking, character defamation, spreading misinformation and inflammatory statements.

In a release signed by the police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, on Monday, it stated, “The command clarified that he was not abducted.