Bank official remanded in prison over ‘damaging and annoying’ Facebook posts against Governor Emmanuel Udom

Michael Itok, a staff of one the Nigerian banks has been remanded in prison over his “damaging and annoying” Facebook posts against Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State and other officials of the state. 

The 21-year-old Prudential Microfinance Bank marketer who was arraigned before a magistrate court in Uyo by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) was arrested in the bank’s premises on October 8 around 7:30 a.m by some unidentified men.

The charge reads “That you, Mr Michael Itok and another now at large, sometimes in October, 2019 at 1000 Units Housing Estate, Idu Uruan, Uruan Local Government Area, within the Uyo Magisterial District did constitute yourself into a nuisance by publishing damaging and annoying articles on your Facebook page with the aim of harassing, blackmailing and bringing to disrepute His Excellency Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and other staff of the Akwa Ibom State Government House, and thereby commits and offence punishable under Section 6(1) (f) of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009.”

Though it is unclear if Itok was represented by a lawyer during his arraignment, it was however learnt that he was detained by the SSS for over 40 days before he was eventually arraigned.

He was remanded in Uyo prison after being arraigned on Tuesday November 26.