The State Security Service, self-styled as the Department of State Services Operatives have re-arrested  an Aba based human rights activist, Empero Gabriel Ogbonna, Esq after spending 6 weeks in police detention.

A federal High Court in Umuahia on Tuesday granted Emperor for an alleged offence border on terrorism against the state.

TNL learnt however that, almost immediately after, the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Abia State, A.C.B. Agbazuere Esq, also a lawyer, stormed the court premises with the men of the DSS to rearrest the lawyer after fulfilling the bail condition.

They had to follow the prison warders to the Correctional Center at Afara Umuahia and rearrested the lawyer without any just cause and took him to their office.

TNL further learnt that the wife of Empero is an expectant mother, heavily pregnant and have stayed without her husband for all those period.

TNL recalls that Empero was arrested for criticizing the state governor on his Facebook post. He was arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting at Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on a two count charge.

The charges border on Cybercrimes; Cyber Terrorism and intentionally publishing false and threat messages through the internet against the governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu which could cause ill-will and hatred against the Governor of the state.

The offences, according to the charge sheet were punishable under section 27(1) (a) and 18(1) of cybercrimes (Prohibition Prevention
ETC) Act, 2015 respectively.

Count II of the charge read:

“That you, Emperor GABRIEL OGBONNA ‘M’ and others now at large, on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District knowingly and intentionally published False and threat messages to the internet that the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu swore an oath before the Ancient HARASHIMA (A Hindu god) to abide absolutely by conditions presented by his predecessor in the office and subvert the people of Abia State, that he also signed document between the former governor, Senator T. A Orji, his son, Hon. Chinedum Orji that the spirits they worship should deal with him if he fails in his undertaking, a publication you know to be false for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, intimidation, enmity, hatred and ill-will against Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 18(1) of cyber crimes (prohibition prevention ETC) Act, 2015.”

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