– As Imolites Call For His Immediate Release
The case instituted against ace broadcaster and human rights activist Mazi Chinonso Uba popularly called Nonso Nkwa, by the Imo State government came up at the Magistrate Court I, Owerri, the Imo State capital on Tuesday, November, 12 and was adjourned to November, 19, 2024.
When the case was called up, the Chief Clerk of the court told lawyers and concerned Imolites who came in their numbers to show solidarity, that the Magistrate went for a seminar at Abuja, hence the matter could not be heard.
It was also gathered that the Director of Public Prosecution DPP, had not filed any charge against Nonso Nkwa as at the time of filing this report.
A member of Nonso Nkwa’s legal team, Barr Charles Mgbekonye, who spoke to journalists, said his client’s bail application that is already before his Lordship, Justice Innodimo will be addressed at the High Court on November, 20, 2024. He expressed optmism that justice will prevail because the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man.
A cross section of concerned Imolites who crowded the court premises to show support and solidarity with Nonso Nkwa who they described as their hero and ‘Senior Advocate of the Masses’ called on Governor Hope Uzodinma and the Imo State government to release him without further delay. Some of them who displayed placards with different inscriptions said, “it is very clear that the reason given by the state government for the arrest and detention of Nonso Nkwa are not only false and baseless but were concocted to cover their tracks. We all know that he was arrested because of his advocacy against social injustice, embezzlement of funds and the incessant arrest, detention and extrajudicial killing of innocent Imolites especially the youths.
“Nonso Nkwa’s call on the state government and the newly elected local government chairmen to be prudent with the funds that will accrue to the state or face the full weight of the law rattled those concerned, hence their calculated attempt to keep him out of circulation, but as long as God lives, darkness cannot prevail over light. Besides,since Nonso Nkwa is being prosecuted, TVC News that aired the report that Nonso Nkwa highlighted should also be prosecuted.”
Some of the placards they displayed had inscriptions like, “Release Nonso Nkwa now, or face the wrath of the people|”, “No matter how long injustice and falsehood last, truth must manifest like the light of day,
“Release Nonso Nkwa now, or arrest and prosecute TVC news that aired the information he shared” etc.