A 36-year-old social media user, Charles Uche Ihedioha, has been granted bail after spending several weeks in detention following his arrest on cybercrime allegations.
Ihedioha was arrested on January 23, 2025, on the orders of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force.
Nigerian human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, made this known on his X handle on Monday, as he commended legal practitioners Barrister Adeyanju Deji, Tope Temokun, and Marshal D. F. Abubakar, along with others, for their role in securing Ihedioha’s release.
Sowore praised their commitment to resisting impunity and defending fundamental human rights.
The human rights activist said, “Today, another victim of Nigeria Police Force’s reckless and abusive application of the Cybercrime Act, Charles Ihedioha, has been granted bail following several weeks of unjust detention by the National Cybercrime Center of the @Nigeria Police Force.”
“We commend Barrister Adeyanju Deji, Tope TemokunTope and Marshal D F Abubakar, and all others who are standing firm against impunity in our land. #RevolutionNow,” Sowore added.
On February 3, newsmen reported that the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who is notorious for abuse of office and powers, ridiculed the parents of a social media user, Charles Uche Ihedioha, 31, who was arrested over his comment on the abduction of Folasade Odumosu, the wife of a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu.
Newsmen learned on Monday that Adejobi also ordered the detention of three police officers who ushered Charles’ parents to his office to plead for leniency.
Sources told newsmen that the officers were held for three days.
On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, newsmen reported that Charles was arrested on Thursday, January 23, 2025, on the orders of Adejobi, the Force spokesperson.
“Muyiwa Adejobi got him arrested and he’s detained at IRT for mocking the abduction of the retired policeman’s wife and the budget scandal,” a source had told Newsmen.
“He was arrested around 3 pm on Thursday, January 23, 2025. They claimed he made a comment on Twitter (X) regarding the kidnap of the retired AIG’s wife.”
Providing an update on Monday, a top source revealed further, “The police PPRO ridiculed the parents of Charles when they were ushered to his office to beg him.
“He even detained three police officers who ushered them into his office for three days.”
It will be recalled that Mrs Odumosu was abducted by four masked men who attacked her, pulled her out of her Lexus SUV, and drove away with her at about 10pm on January 16.
She was recently rescued from her captors after a gun duel with the criminals in the swampy area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, and the N10 million ransom paid to the kidnappers was recovered.
During the operation, two of the kidnappers were killed while others fled with injuries, leaving behind their weapons, according to the police.
Two other suspects were later arrested by the police.
Adejobi is known for frequently issuing threats to Nigerians and making numerous controversial statements despite serving as the police spokesperson.
In December 2024, he said the police would start clamping down on Nigerians who ‘rain curses’ on government officials and others on social media platforms, describing it as a criminal offence.
“Raining direct curses on someone online is cyberbullying, not expression of freedom or criticism. And cyberbullying, which is even different from defamation, is a criminal offence and punishable. Be guided,” the power-drunk officer had posted.
