The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Enugu State, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, has reacted to the prosecution of a member of the party, Samuel Ani, who allegedly recorded a thuggery attack during an NDC meeting at Obuoffia, Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.
Ani had allegedly made the video when some alleged thugs attacked the party faithful at Ihuani Awkunanaw, Obuoffia, on 12th September 2026.
THE WHISTLER gathered that the suspected thugs had been released after they were initially arrested by the state police command and the Zone 13 Headquarters in Anambra State.
A charge sheet seen by our correspondent accused Ani, 45, of secretly recording the video. He was arraigned before an Enugu East Magistrates’ Court sitting at Nkwo Nike on Monday, October 5, 2026. He was accused of cybercrime and criminal defamation under Section 24(2)(a)&(c)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).
According to Charge No: MEE/ 151c/2026 brought before Chief Magistrate Sir F. E. Chukwu (Chief Magistrate Grade 1), the police accused Ani of posting videos of the armed attack on the social media.
The police claimed that the defendant falsely named key individuals — Ani Nnabuike, Solomon Ifeanyi, and Monday Anninwe — as members of the armed squad that attacked the NDC meeting on September 12, 2026.
The count 1 of the charge sheet stated that, “You, Ani Samuel Chidi ‘m’, on the 12th day of September, 2026 at about 0540hours at Obuoffia Awkunanaw, Enugu, did intentionally author, record and published a false statement against the Ani Nnabuike ‘m’ on Ite-Odo Obuoffia Community Whatsapp Group, Tik-Tok, Instagram, Facebook, Sahara Reporters by stating that he is a member of the armed group that attacked members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and disrupted their political meeting’ and also threatened to kill him and his family members; a publication which you knew to be false and put Ani Nnabuike ‘m’ in fear of imminent attack from members of the public and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(a)&(c)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).”
Ani was accused of the same offence regarding Solomon Ifeanyi and Monday Anninwe, respectively.
Following his arraignment by Police Prosecutor Ajogwu, the magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending further court proceedings.
The guber candidate, in a reaction contained in a statement issued by his media assistant, Sampson Ukwu, claimed that while the suspected attackers and their sponsors remained free, the man who documented the crime is being prosecuted for cybercrime and criminal defamation.
He said, “This is a clear case of justice turned upside down. Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees that ‘every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference’. Filming and exposing an attack on peaceful citizens cannot be a crime in a democratic society.”
Ohaa said the development was no longer an attack on the NDC, but “an attack on truth, on justice, and on the people of Nkanu”.
Quoting him, “When those who shoot innocent citizens are protected and the person who films the crime is punished, then we are in dangerous territory. I will not keep quiet while my people are treated this way. My administration will never weaponise the state against the people. We will protect every citizen’s right to speak the truth without fear.”
He demanded the immediate release of Ani, and ,”the diligent prosecution of all those involved in the Obuoffia attack regardless of their political connections”.
