For allegedly posting uncomplimentary comments about Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, the traditional ruler of Umucheke, Eze Ekene Obinali, has been arrested by men of the State Police Command.
Eze Obinali, the ruler of Umucheke in Umuobom, Ideato South local government area of the State, was arrested on Wednesday.
A source told LEADERSHIP that the monarch was arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Police Command for allegedly sharing on a WhatsApp platform a write-up that was said to be very critical of Uzodimma.
Obinali was said to have posted a forwarded write-up on a WhatsApp group platform called Ideato Voice.
The administrator of the WhatsApp platform, Vitus Ezenwa, confirmed the arrest to LEADERSHIP.
According to him, he was the first person arested by the Police and granted bail then afterwards the Police apprehended the traditional ruler.
Ezenwa disclosed that the title of the post was “Gov Hope Uzodimma in a fresh scandal”, adding that it was centred on the role of the late Ahmed Gulak in the 2018 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Imo State.
He said, “My name is Nze Dr Vitus Ezenwa, the publisher of Ideato Voice newspapers. I was arrested by the police over the post because I am the administrator of the platform where it was made, Ideato Voice platform. I was detained until the royal father was arrested and currently detained. He is currently at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Tiger base. The post was made on March 20. The Police granted me bail after the traditional ruler was arested. I was asked to be reporting at the police everyday till further notice,” Ezenwa stated.
Efforts to get confirmation from the Police Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, proved abortive as he said he was in a meeting as at the time of filing this report.
