Police in Akwa Ibom have reportedly arrested an Akwa Ibom comedian identified as Sir james on Wednesday, January 15 for allegedly sharing injurious posts on Facebook against the Commissoner for tourism, Orman Esin in the sate.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the comedian was allegedly arrested on the orders of an Akwa Ibom government official.
The whole issue started after the comedian accused the Commissoner for tourism, Mr Esin and the ministry for refusinf to pay or underlying local entertainers after a state organised Christmas party they performed in.
Shortly after the Christmas party, the comedian started an online campaign to protest against an alleged poor treatment of local entertainers in the state before he was arrested.
The comedian wrote in one of his facebook posts as follows;
“I heard the Commissioner’s house is receiving unexpected guests this morning & currently paying some artiste.
“Some people who called me for direction to his house are now send me ‘Thank You’ & ‘God Bless’.
“Hurry up, go & get your money coz he may be going overseas for vacation with his family this weekend.”
An entertainer who prefers anonoymity told newsmen that Essien was mainly arrested because he published the commissioner’s house address and phone number on Facebook.”
“The problem is not that he accused the commissioner of not paying entertainers, the problem is that he published the commissioner’s house address and phone number on Facebook.”
Efforts to get in contact with the police public relations officer in the state were futile as lines were unavailable as at the time of reportage.
