BY NGOZI OKORIE
THE Police in Anambra State have arrested and paraded Philip Chinwuba, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano, over an alleged false and malicious publication against his boss.
While parading the SSA on Tuesday, at the State Police headquarters in Amawbia, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, said Chinwuba’s false claim that his principal, his wife and many government officials had contracted COVID-19 from the wife of the Chief of Staff, had caused hatred and panic, which could lead to breach of peace and order in the state.
Chinwuba had reportedly said Obiano and his wife, Ebelechukwu, had contracted COVID-19 through the wife of the Chief of Staff, Primus Odili, who had returned from a trip abroad.
He alleged in the said report that while Obiano and his aides had gone into isolation, over 30 senior government officials had been infected through the wife of the CoS.
He was also said to have alleged that the late Igwe Kelly of Igbariam had contracted the virus after visiting the Governor to thank him for lifting his suspension, adding that he died three days to the last Ofala celebration.
The PPRO said, “The suspect claimed that coronavirus has hit Government House Awka with more than 30 senior government officials, including Governor Obiano on isolation and that late Igwe Kelly of Igbariam contracted the virus after visiting the Governor to thank him for lifting his suspension and died three days to the last Ofala celebration.
“That the virus was brought into Government House by Mrs. Maureen Odili from USA who is the wife of Chief of Staff to the Governor.
“That Mr. Primus Odili was having sexual affairs with light skin woman and as such Maureen bleached herself and came to show off her new look…etc.
“Also circulated on the same premise were series of falsehood and inciting messages which were made for the purposes of causing annoyance, criminal-intimidation, enemity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety, contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention Etc) Act, 2015.
“Preliminary investigation conducted by the police revealed that same publication which was traceable to his own platform is what was sent to a blogger who the Command subsequently invited for briefing.
“The blogger corroborated that the item was sent to him by the suspect to disseminate.
“We have them as witnesses and will stand before the court to give his own evidence in line with the allegation leveled against the suspect.”
The Police maintained that the SSA would be charged as appropriate after investigations were concluded.
The suspect has however denied the allegations in strong terms, arguing that his platform might have been hacked.
Explaining his position, Chinwuba said, “I’m the SSA to the Executive Governor of Anambra State on Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency ANSIPPA.
“Before 2017 governorship election, I set up a virtual platform for the election and we used it very well for the election.
“Four days ago, I was arrested for these alleged publications emanating from the same platform. I’m not aware of myself publishing any malicious item against the Governor and the people of Anambra State.
“Around 27th November last year, my laptop and some of my devices were stolen from my vehicle at ACCESS Bank but I reported and the incident is still being investigated by the Central Police Station CPS, Awka.”
“My phone may have been breached, the same thing with the information in it. Unfortunately, I read the said information like everyone else,” he claimed.
He said he had a good relationship with both the Governor and the Chief of Staff and apologised for the embarrassment the content on his platform might have caused.
“All I have to say to the Governor of Anambra State is that I am sorry because my platform was used against Odili and his wife but I did not publish anything against the Governor,” he maintained.
