Coalition Demands Release of Activist Remanded in Enugu Over Social Media Post

A coalition of 50 civil society and human rights organisations in Nigeria has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, a social media influencer and activist currently remanded in Enugu Prison over alleged defamatory publication and cyberbullying charges.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the coalition described the prosecution as a coordinated effort to silence one of the prominent critics of state and local authorities in Enugu State.

Ugwuanyi was arraigned on January 27, 2026, before a Magistrate Court in Enugu State over a Facebook post concerning the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia. The magistrate denied him bail despite legal arguments presented on his behalf, leaving him in detention.

The coalition noted that this prosecution represents the latest episode in what they describe as a sustained campaign to intimidate the activist.

According to the statement, Ugwuanyi has consistently used his platform to hold public officials accountable. The group expressed concern over what they termed an escalation from physical attacks to criminal prosecution as an attempt to neutralize a vocal critic through state power.

The statement recalled an incident on December 13, 2025, when Ugwuanyi was reportedly attacked by six men at a fuel station in Nsukka shortly after leaving a meeting. Ugwuanyi identified one of the assailants as Egbugo, the Chief Security Officer of Nsukka Local Government Area.

“He accused me of criticizing the chairman and verbally attacked me before the others joined in. It was a coordinated attempt to frighten me into silence,” Ugwuanyi had told civil society representatives.

The coalition noted that despite reporting the assault to the police, no action was taken against the alleged attackers. The group raised questions about the response of law enforcement and whether public officials are using security forces to harass dissenters.

However, the coalition explicitly stated that CP Nkiruka Nwode has no involvement in the matter, exonerating her from any wrongdoing.

The legal basis for Ugwuanyi’s prosecution also came under criticism from the group. The coalition argued that Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015, as amended, limits punishable offenses to the transmission of pornographic content or knowingly false messages intended to cause a breakdown of law and order or threat to life.

“Commentary on a public official plainly does not meet this threshold,” the statement said, describing the charges as a misuse of the law to intimidate journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens.

A representative of Lawyers Without Borders Nigeria, one of the signatories, rejected the notion that criticising government officials is a crime.

“Freedom of expression is a constitutional right, and no citizen should be detained for expressing their opinion online. Chijinkem Ugwuanyi is being punished for daring to speak truth to power,” the representative said.

Amnesty International Nigeria, also a signatory, condemned the prosecution and called for immediate action, describing the case as part of a worrying pattern where laws meant to protect citizens are weaponized to stifle dissent.

The coalition demanded that the Enugu State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, and judicial authorities immediately release Ugwuanyi and drop all charges against him. They also called for a full investigation into the December 13, 2025 assault, urging that all perpetrators, including any public officials involved, be held accountable.

A representative of the Civil Liberties Organisation described the case as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

“If dissenters can be silenced with impunity, then the voices of ordinary citizens are under threat,” the representative said.

The coalition stressed the need for reforms to prevent future misuse of the Cybercrimes Act, stating that legislation must not become a tool for political persecution. They affirmed that every Nigerian must be able to express themselves online without fear of arrest, detention, or prosecution.

The joint statement was signed by 50 organisations, including Amnesty International Nigeria, Lawyers Without Borders Nigeria, Civil Liberties Organisation, Center For Social Justice, Human Rights Liberties Access And Peace Defenders Foundation, and several local advocacy groups across Enugu, Anambra, Lagos, and Bauchi states.