Magistrates’ Absence Stalls Imo Lawyer’s Arraignment

The lack of the main magistrate of the Owerri judicial part 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 connected Tuesday was brought to tribunal connected Wednesday for arraignment but determination was nary main magistrate to perceive the charge.

The president of the Eastern Bar Forum, Barr. Damian Nosike, told lawyers who gathered for the substance that the magistrates had gone for a relation and were not disposable for the hearing.
According to him, the charges tin lone beryllium heard by a main magistrate adding that determination was nary connected spot connected Wednesday.

He said, “We person conscionable been informed that determination is nary main magistrate disposable for the charges to beryllium preferred against our colleague, Barr Chinedu Agu.

“The constabulary said the accusation is that they volition instrumentality him backmost to their bureau and bring him backmost to tribunal tomorrow.

The substance cannot beryllium heard today”, Nosike said.

Police spokesperson for Imo State, DSP Henry Okoye had connected Wednesday greeting disclosed that Agu was to beryllium arraigned successful tribunal aforesaid time for cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civilian disturbances, and behaviour apt to origin a breach of the peace.

Okoye said the lawyer was to beryllium arraigned for cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civilian disturbances, and behaviour apt to origin a breach of the peace.

Okoye said, “Yes, Mr. Chinedu Agu, Esq., has been arraigned earlier a Magistrate’s Court successful Owerri connected allegations bordering connected cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civic disturbances, and behaviour apt to origin a breach of the peace. The arraignment was carried retired successful accordance with the regularisation of instrumentality and with owed respect for his cardinal quality rights”, Okoye said.

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

He had successful a Facebook station astatine the play disclosed that the radical was nary existent with nary CAC registration and nary traceable bureau code anyplace successful the state adding that it was sponsored by the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Hon Declan Emelumba.

Meanwhile, lawyers successful their numbers stormed the magistrate tribunal to amusement solidarity for Agu led by the president of the Nigerian Bar Association Owerri branch, Chief Chris Ihentuge and president of Eastern Bar Forum, Barr. Damian Nosike.

The lawyer had go fashionable aft an unfastened warfare of sentiment pieces with the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Hon Declan Emelumba implicit authorities of governance successful Imo State.

Agu had done his societal media handles written an sentiment titled “Tears from Enugu: a lawyer’s heartbreaking diary from a authorities that works to a authorities successful ruins” dated August 30th, 2025, and different 1 connected August 31st, 2025 titled “Imo State – wherever justness is connected abrogation during tribunal vacation”.

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

Chairman of Owerri NBA, Chief Chris Ihentuge appealed to the lawyers to stay calm portion they marque arrangements for administrative bail for Agu. The lawsuit has been adjourned to Thursday (today), September 24, for arraignment.