Cybercrime: Court sends Rivers monarch to prison

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded His Royal Highness, Eze Cyprian Amadi-Worenwu, the Eze Risi Ohia-Emeri Abali of Rebisi, to the Port Harcourt Correctional Facility on a charge related to cybercrime.

The charge alleges that on March 28, 2023, Eze Amadi-Worenwu transmitted a message to the phone number of one Sunday Gift-Chinenem, threatening and harassing retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli, causing the judge to fear for his life.

The charge also details how the accused threatened that he knew where Justice Enebeli’s son worked and that the retired judge would not live to enjoy his retirement.

Eze Amadi-Worenwu allegedly threatened to kill the retired justice for not delivering judgment in his favour in a chieftaincy suit against Christopher Wonodi and others on March 20, 2023.

This offence is contrary to Section 24 (1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015.

But when the charge was read to him, Eze Amadi-Worenwu pleaded not guilty.

The trial judge, Justice Emmanuel Obele, refused an oral bail application by defence counsel A.S. Amadi, which was opposed by prosecution counsel ASP Welter Ogwuikpile.

Justice Obele adjourned the case until July 29, 2024, for bail consideration and ordered that the accused be remanded in the Port Harcourt Correctional Facility until the next adjourned date.

Detectives from the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, arrested and detained Eze Amadi-Worenwu after he had previously avoided police invitations regarding his alleged threats against Enebeli and his family.