A Magistrate Court in Yenagoa has ordered the remand of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State chapter, Aye Egberi, at the Okaka Medium Correctional Centre over allegations of cyberbullying.
Egberi was accused of publishing a Facebook post in which he alleged that Governor Douye Diri Police Commissioner Francis Idu, and senior officers of were behind the of State High Court Judge, Justice Ebiyerim Umokoro.
The chieftain was remanded three days after he was arrested in the state capital by operatives of Operation Puff Adder, led by Chris Uwaogbo, following a petition from the Police Commissioner over the controversial publication.
During his arraignment before Magistrate Stanley Ekeru of Court 14 yesterday, the Police Prosecution Counsel, Japhet O. Japhet, argued that Egberi’s post was defamatory and posed a threat to the Governor, the Police Commissioner, and their families.
Citing Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, the prosecution urged the court to remand the accused pending further investigation and advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
In response, the 37-year-old chieftain reportedly expressed regret, admitting that his post was made “out of ignorance.”
Despite opposition from his defence counsel, C.S. Christian, the court upheld the prosecution’s request for remand.
The trial also saw the presence of Bayelsa APC Chairman, Dennis Otiotio, whose arrival drew a caution from the prosecution against politicizing the matter. Magistrate Ekeru subsequently ruled that Egberi be remanded in prison custody while investigations continue.
