*Condemns Cybercrime Charges as Attack on Free Speech
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Former NBA Vice President and prominent Bar leader, John Aikpokpo-Martins, Esq., has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to urgently defend the fundamental rights of Chinedu Agu, Esq., a past Secretary of the NBA Owerri Branch, who faces charges under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Amendment Act, 2024 by the Nigeria Police in Owerri.
Aikpokpo-Martins expressed grave concern over what he described as the apparent targeting of Agu for exercising his constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression. Agu is alleged to have posted critical comments on Facebook regarding the Imo State government, including statements such as: “Enugu is working, Imo is rotting”, “the courts are closed and justice has been kidnapped…by bandits in government”, and “this is not government, this is tyranny trapped in sinking bureaucracy.”
The lawyer warned that the charges represent a dangerous precedent for weaponizing cybercrime laws to suppress public criticism of government actions, particularly amid ongoing governance controversies in Imo State, such as alleged non-compliance with NJC directives on the appointment of the Chief Judge.
“As a Nigerian, a lawyer, and past NBA officer, Chinedu Agu’s rights must be vigorously defended by the NBA in furtherance of one of its cardinal objectives: the protection of Nigerians’ right to express themselves and critique the government,” Aikpokpo-Martins said.
He further called on the NBA to constitute a powerful defense team of Senior Advocates to represent Agu and safeguard constitutional freedoms that he said are “visibly under attack by the authorities.”
“This is the perfect opportunity for the NBA to stand out and stand tall,” he added, urging the association to take deliberate steps to stop the misuse of cybercrime provisions to curtail public commentary on social media.
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