The Cross River State Government has denied any involvement in the arrest of social media commentator Denis Odama over comments he made in response to a Facebook post by Governor Bassey Otu.
The government, while condemning the comments, says Odama’s arrest followed a petition by some aides of the governor.
Police authorities say established procedures were followed in his arrest and transfer from Lagos to Cross River State.
The controversy began with a comment posted by Denis Odama in response to a Facebook post by Governor Bassey Otu.
The comment questioned the governor’s character and prompted some of his aides to petition the police.
Odama was subsequently arrested in Lagos and detained at the FESTAC Police Division.
He was later transferred to Cross River State by officers attached to the Anti-Vice Unit of the Zone Six Police Command in Calabar.
Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Ekpeyong Cobham, says the state government neither ordered nor participated in the arrest.
But he condemned the comment attributed to Odama, describing it as disrespectful and unacceptable.
Cobham says due process should be allowed to take its course and that Odama should be given an opportunity to substantiate his allegations.
The commissioner also criticised what he described as the growing use of social media by some young people to make disparaging comments about their elders.
Police authorities say officers from Zone Six did not carry out the initial arrest.
Zone Six Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jefferson Osupe, says the officers took custody of Odama following the petition and transferred him to Cross River State, where the alleged offence was reported.
Odama was subsequently arraigned in court and remanded for seven days.
His arrest has attracted public attention, while the state government maintains it had no role in the police action.
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Editor..Ada Ononye
