In a case that raises serious questions about abuse of office, disregard for due process, and human rights violations, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, member of the House of Representatives for Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, has used the Cybercrime Act as a tool of repression against a 66-year-old activist, Mr. Kindness Jonah.
According to evidence gathered by SaharaReporters, Mr. Jonah has been held in unlawful detention since February 27, 2025, without trial or formal notification to his family—a gross violation of constitutional rights and international human rights standards.
Gists9ja understand that ateam of armed officers from the notorious SARS Abattoir unit in Abuja, led by CSP Ejike Emmanuel, was dispatched to Enugu on February 23, 2025, to apprehend Mr. Jonah. Despite being a federal unit, they failed to report to the Enugu State CID or any local police formation—standard procedure for interstate police operations.
The officers lodged at a hotel and spent four days covertly tracking Mr. Jonah, who was arrested on February 27. Eyewitnesses describe the operation more as an abduction than an arrest. Mr. Jonah was immediately transported to Abuja, bypassing all official channels.
Detention and Secret Charges
Upon arrival in Abuja, Mr. Jonah was detained indefinitely at the SARS Abattoir facility, under the supervision of ACP Victor. During this period, his whereabouts were unknown to his family, who searched tirelessly through police facilities in Enugu with no success.
Meanwhile, police quietly filed charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, securing May 21, 2025, as an arraignment date—without notifying the accused or his family.
But in a rare twist, the newly appointed FCT Police Commissioner, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, made an unannounced inspection visit to SARS Abattoir on April 11, 2025. Upon discovering the frail and visibly ill Mr. Jonah, CP Adewale ordered his immediate release.
A source told SaharaReporters that after hearing about Mr. Kindness Jonah’s ordeal, the FCT Police Commissioner was visibly upset and ordered the SARS commander, ACP Victor, to release Mr. Jonah. However, according to the source, as soon as the commissioner left, the SARS officials contacted Chinedu Ogah.
It was learnt that within 24 hours of the visit, officers allegedly colluded with Rep. Ogah to defy that order.
Instead of releasing Mr. Jonah, on April 12, 2025, SARS officials took Mr. Jonah to an unknown location, then transferred him to Keffi Maximum Security Prison in Nasarawa State without a court appearance or due process.
This was done on the basis of what appears to be a forged detention order from a Wuse Zone 6 Magistrate Court—dated for a Saturday, an unusual and suspicious detail.
Mr. Jonah is now being held pending a fabricated hearing date—April 26, 2025, another Saturday—while awaiting his real court date on May 21.
Visit to Keffi Prison
On April 23, 2025, journalist and whistleblower, Isaac Bristol, also known as ‘PidomNigeria’, visited Mr. Jonah at the Keffi Maximum Security Prison. Though in poor health and visibly weak, the detained activist remains mentally alert and hopeful for justice.
The use of the Cybercrime Act in this instance appears to be a façade for political retribution.
In a two-count charge filed on March 13, 2025, at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, E. A. Inegbenoise Esq., representing the Legal/Prosecution Section of the Criminal Investigation Section, FCT Police Command, accused Comrade Kindness Jonah of intentionally referring to Hon. Chinedu N. Ogah as an ex-convict.
This act is alleged to violate Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and is punishable under Section 24(2)(a)(ii) of the same Act.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/97/2025, lists the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, as the complainant and Comrade Kindness Jonah as the defendant.
The counts read: “That you, Comrade Kindness Jonah ‘m’ 66 years old of 22/24, Edinburgh Road, Enugu, Enugu State on diverse dates through the use of computer network in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an illegal act to wit. Cyberstalking, when you knowingly and intentionally accused Hon. Chinedu N. Ogah, OON of being the killer of one Ukamaka Immaculate Ogboji, which you know the content of the various internet posts to be false. You thereby committed an offence contrary to section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under section 24(2)(a)(i) of the same Act.
ACP Victor was contacted by journalists for a reaction, but he declined to comment and directed that the police public relations officer be contacted instead.
“You can contact the police public relations officer. So no comment,” he said.
However, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, initially requested time to make inquiries before commenting on the matter, but subsequent attempts to reach her were unsuccessful.
Background
On April 16, SaharaReporters highlighted the unrest in Ihe community, Awgu Local Government Area, over Mr Jonah’s detention. His arrest followed his efforts to challenge the wrongful conviction and death sentence of their son, Ifeanyi Ekoh, for alleged murder.
The case revolves around the brutal killing of seven-year-old Ukamaka Immaculata Ogboji, whose body was dismembered in August 2012. Ogah, a feared and influential politician in Ebonyi State, was reportedly implicated in the ritual murder by suspects arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Despite being in Lagos at the time of the crime and having no ties to Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Ekoh was convicted of the murder and sentenced to death by the Ebonyi State High Court in 2022. The community asserted that Ekoh had remained in detention despite a strong alibi proving his innocence.
Mr. Jonah, Convener of Voice From The East (VEast), exposed alleged cover-ups in Ekoh’s trial and petitioned Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the actual perpetrators and their sponsors.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker is one of those linked to the killing.
Following his petition, Jonah was grabbed by the police in Enugu on February 27, 2025 and taken to Abuja.
