Joseph Odok, a Nigerian lawyer and well-known critic of the Cross Rivers state governor, Ben Ayade, has been dragged before the Federal High Court, Calabar, the state capital, on treasonable charges.
Odok was arrested in Abuja on September 26th and taken to Cross Rivers where he has been in dentention for several days.
He was arraigned before the court by the state police today Tuesday October 22nd.
In the charge sheet filed by the police, Odok was accused of cybercrime and also accusing the Chief of Staff to Mr Ayade of being a cultist.
At the hearing of the case against him, Odok’s lawyer, Oliver Osang, told the court that the charges against his client were politically motivated.
“What they call terrorism, according to the prosecution counsel, is that he incited his community people against another community. The charges are phantom charges, they are politically motivated.”
Meanwhile the state governor has denied any involevement in Odok’s arrest. Speaking through his media aide, Christian Ita, the governor says he does not know anything about Odok’s arrest and that the police are in a better position to tell you why they have arrested him.
Recall that another critic of Governor Ayade, Agba Jalingo, is currently facing treason trial over a report published in his newspaper, alleging that the governor diverted N500 million belonging to the Cross River state government.