Police confirms arrest of social media influencer

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of a social media influencer, Chude Franklin Nnamdi for cyberstalking allegation.

Chude, a supporter of the Labour Party, was arrested on Saturday after tweeting against Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

Prior to his arrest, Chude, via his Twitter handle, @chude__ alleged that thugs purportedly loyal to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were disrupting the voting process in Awada, Anambra state, to prevent the Labour Party (LP) from winning the election.

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Some social media users claimed that he was arrested over an alleged petition written by the Anambra governor.

But the governor in a release denied any involvement in the arrest of the social media influencer.

In a statement on Wednesday, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed Chude arrest, stating that he was arrested following a petition.

“The Nigeria Police hereby confirms that one Mr Chude Franklin Nnamdi with Twitter handle ‘@chude__’ was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra state on the 18th of March, 2023, and he is being investigated by the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) Abuja, for cyberstalking, pursuant to a complaint received via a petition, about his activities on social media which contravenes the provision of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and other criminal laws,” the statement reads.

Adejobi did not disclosed who wrote the petition against Chude, but said a prima facie case has been established against him

“Furthermore, a prima facie case has been established against him while the case file has been forwarded to the Force Legal Department for further action.

The Nigeria Police Force urged members of the public to familiarize themselves with provisions of the Cybercrimes law.

“The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, urges members of the public to familiarize themselves with provisions of the law and be aware of the penalties for violating them most especially cybercrime laws with the new trends in the digital media space.”