Magistrates’ Absence Stalls Imo Lawyer’s Arraignment

The absence of the chief magistrate of the Owerri judicial division yesterday stalled the arraignment of an Owerri-based lawyer, Chinedu Agu, for alleged cyberstalking against Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

Agu who was arrested on Tuesday was brought to court on Wednesday for arraignment but there was no chief magistrate to hear the charge.

The chairman of the Eastern Bar Forum, Barr. Damian Nosike, told lawyers who gathered for the matter that the magistrates had gone for a function and were not available for the hearing.
According to him, the charges can only be heard by a chief magistrate adding that there was none on seat on Wednesday.

He said, “We have just been informed that there is no chief magistrate available for the charges to be preferred against our colleague, Barr Chinedu Agu.

“The police said the implication is that they will take him back to their office and bring him back to court tomorrow.

The matter cannot be heard today”, Nosike said.

Police spokesperson for Imo State, DSP Henry Okoye had on Wednesday morning disclosed that Agu was to be arraigned in court same day for cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civil disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

Okoye said the lawyer was to be arraigned for cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civil disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

Okoye said, “Yes, Mr. Chinedu Agu, Esq., has been arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Owerri on allegations bordering on cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civic disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. The arraignment was carried out in accordance with the rule of law and with due respect for his fundamental human rights”, Okoye said.

Agu was arrested following a petition from a group, Imo Democratic Alliance, signed by Umukoro Marvis Udochukwu, who alleged that Agu through his articles was inciting the people.

He had in a Facebook post at the weekend disclosed that the group was none existent with no CAC registration and no traceable office address anywhere in the country adding that it was sponsored by the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Hon Declan Emelumba.

Meanwhile, lawyers in their numbers stormed the magistrate court to show solidarity for Agu led by the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Owerri branch, Chief Chris Ihentuge and chairman of Eastern Bar Forum, Barr. Damian Nosike.

The lawyer had become popular after an open war of opinion pieces with the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Hon Declan Emelumba over state of governance in Imo State.

Agu had through his social media handles written an opinion titled “Tears from Enugu: a lawyer’s heartbreaking diary from a state that works to a state in ruins” dated August 30th, 2025, and another one on August 31st, 2025 titled “Imo State – where justice is on vacation during court vacation”.

However, Emelumba had responded in an article titled “Lawyer Agu’s satanic verses against Imo State”.

Chairman of Owerri NBA, Chief Chris Ihentuge appealed to the lawyers to remain calm while they make arrangements for administrative bail for Agu. The case has been adjourned to Thursday (today), September 24, for arraignment.