Gov’s Aide Arrested For Alleging Obiano, Wife Tested Positive For Covid-19

The senior special assistant to the governor of Anambra State on Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Mr Phil Chinwuba, was Tuesday paraded by the police in Awka for allegedly publishing that Gov Willie Obiano, his wife and the wife of Obiano’s chief of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

Our correspondent reports that two weeks ago, there was an online report where an anonymous writer claimed thirty senior Anambra government officials, including the governor, tested positive for the pandemic.

The state police PRO, CSP Haruna Mohammed, while parading the suspect, said Mr Chinwube, from Aguleri in Anambra East LGA, was arrested to explain his role in the publication.

Mr Mohammed said, “Also circulated on the same premise was a series of falsehood and inciting messages which were made to cause annoyance, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention Etc) Act, 2015.”
The suspect, Phil Chinwuba, 56, a former managing director of the Anambra State Waste Management Agency under the present administration, however, denied publishing the story. According to him, he created the platform in 2017 to champion the re-election of Governor Obiano, but denied publishing the story.

He claimed his laptop and some communication gadgets were stolen in November 2020, and that the platform might have been compromised by hackers.

The aide explained that he read the information published on his platform, and expressed worries that his premise was used to publish the unsubstantiated report.

The PPRO said the suspect would be prosecuted after investigations for the offence in line with section 24 (1) A and B of Cyber Act Crime Prevention and Prohibition 2015.