Police: Chude Nnamdi, social media influencer, was arrested for cyberstalking

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says Nnamdi Chude, a social media influencer, was arrested for cyberstalking allegation. 

On Saturday, Chude was said to have been arrested by police in Anambra state and allegedly taken to Abuja, the country’s capital.

Some social media users claimed that he was arrested over an alleged petition written by the Anambra governor.

Others alleged that the arrest was due to a tweet he posted on electoral violence in the state during the house of assembly elections on Saturday.

But in a statement on Wednesday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force public relations officer, said the social media influencer was arrested following a petition about his activities on social media which contravened some established laws. 

“The Nigeria Police hereby confirms that one Mr Chude Franklin Nnamdi with Twitter handle ‘@chude__’ was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra state on the 18th of March, 2023, and he is being investigated by the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) Abuja, for cyberstalking, pursuant to a complaint received via a petition, about his activities on social media which contravenes the provision of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and other criminal laws,” the statement reads.

TheCable observed that the NPF did not state who wrote the petition against Chude in the statement. 

Prior to his arrest, Chude, via his Twitter handle, alleged that thugs purportedly loyal to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were disrupting the voting process in Awada, Anambra state, to prevent the Labour Party (LP) from winning the election.

Adejobi, in the statement, said the NPF cyber crime unit has opened a case against Chude in court.

“Furthermore, a prima facie case has been established against him while the case file has been forwarded to the Force Legal Department for further action. 

“The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, urges members of the public to familiarize themselves with provisions of the law and be aware of the penalties for violating them most especially cybercrime laws with the new trends in the digital media space.”

TheCable had reported how Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, denied involvement in the arrest of Chude as Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), called for his release. 

Obi said he was informed that Chude was apprehended because “he tweeted against the people in government”.

Obi called on “all concerned to please treat the issue compassionately to release the young man in question”.