An Owerri Magistrate Court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Obinna Njemanze, has ordered the remand of lawyer and activist, Chinedu Agu, at the Owerri Correctional Center pending further judicial action.
Agu, a former General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri branch, was arraigned on Thursday after his scheduled arraignment the previous day was stalled.
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He was detained on Tuesday during his second visit to the police in Owerri within a week.
The police charged Agu with offenses bordering on alleged cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting public disturbance, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
The charges were reportedly linked to posts he made on his social media handles, where he commented on governance, public interest, and the justice system in Imo State.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Agu pleaded not guilty to all charges. His lead counsel, M.O. Nlemedim, a former Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, applied for bail, but the magistrate declined the application, citing lack of jurisdiction to hear the matter.
Magistrate Njemanze ordered that Agu be remanded at the Owerri Correctional Center until the next judicial step is taken, effectively leaving his fate to be decided at a higher court.
Agu, who has maintained that he is being victimized, has received support from several activists and professional bodies who have called on the police to discontinue the case.
They argue that his prosecution represents an attempt to gag free speech in the state and sets a dangerous precedent for civic engagement and public discourse.
Observers say the case will likely reignite debates around freedom of expression, social media activism, and the limits of state power in addressing dissenting voices.