Information has surfaced on the statement that landed an Aba based human rights activist, Empero Gabriel Ogbonna, Esq in prison.

TNL recalls that a Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State has remanded him at the Afaraukwu Prison in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The statement was allegedly posted by Empero Ogbonna on his Facebook timeline. It reads:

“Since yesterday, a document has been circulating online. I even saw the document on a news forum.
The document purports to be a document signed by an Igbo governor wherein he undertook to surrender his state to his sponsor, a former governor of the state, and his son.
The document was signed by the current governor.
He took an oath that the spirits they worship should deal with him if he fails in his undertaking.
The document was said to have been gotten from the home of the former governor and his son when the home of
the former governor was raided.
This is serious.
If that oath is real, then I am speechless.
The quest for power.
People serving the devil because of power.
The level people can sink just for temporal power.”

According to a charge sheet; U/194c/2020, Commissioner of Police vs Emperor Gabriel Ogbonna, which was obtained by our TNL, the the lawyer and another person said to be at large were arraigned before the Magistrate Court on a two count charge.

The charge are bordering on Cyber crimes; 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 cyber crimes (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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