Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has directed the immediate release of businessman and social media commentator Denis Odama, who had spent nearly a week in detention. Odama’s incarceration stemmed from a petition filed by some of the governor’s aides over critical commentary shared on digital platforms.
The arrest, which followed a police petition alleging cyberbullying, drew widespread public backlash across the state and online. Civil society groups, activists, and legal practitioners criticized the action as an infringement on civic freedoms. Following a court remand order at the Chief Magistrates Court in Calabar, mounting pressure prompted a policy reversal from the state’s leadership.
In an official statement released via his verified social media handles, Governor Otu announced that he had personally instructed the aides responsible to withdraw their complaint. Furthermore, the governor directed the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to utilize constitutional powers to discontinue the ongoing legal proceedings.
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Reiterating his administration’s stance on fundamental human rights, Governor Otu invoked Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees freedom of expression. He emphasized that leadership requires accommodating diverse perspectives, noting that his office remains open to constructive criticism.
At the same time, the state chief executive appealed to the youth and digital commentators to exercise their civic liberties responsibly, keeping local moral standards and cultural values in view. The directive is expected to facilitate Odama’s immediate discharge from the Afokang Correctional Centre and his subsequent reunion with his family.
