A councillor in Delta State, Chukwuemeka Victor Kenneth, has remained in detention for nearly two months after being charged with cyberstalking over comments he allegedly made while demanding greater transparency in the finances of Ukwuani Local Government Area.
Kenneth, who represents Ward 19 in Ezhionum Kingdom, Ukwuani LGA, has been in custody since July 16, 2026, following his arrest over comments made during a live television programme on June 21, 2026, which was also streamed online.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors allege that Kenneth knowingly made false statements capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the local government area.
The allegations reportedly centred on his comments concerning the management of council allocations by the Executive Chairman of Ukwuani LGA, Barrister Chiamaka Solomon Possible Ajede.
The prosecution alleges that Kenneth claimed council allocations were being used to offset alleged financial obligations linked to former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, while accusing the chairman of diverting part of the funds to family members and personal properties.
Kenneth has denied wrongdoing, while the allegations concerning the alleged diversion of council funds and the use of local government allocations to service debts linked to Okowa remain contested and have not been independently established.
Councillor’s Transparency Campaign
Before his arrest, Kenneth had reportedly taken legal steps to obtain detailed financial records from the local government.
He initially invoked the Freedom of Information Act before approaching the court after efforts to obtain the records proved unsuccessful.
In May 2026, a Delta State High Court reportedly ordered the council treasurer to publish monthly revenue and expenditure records from July 2024.
The court also directed the council chairman to provide details of the monthly wage bill and the 2025 budget performance.
The court further restrained the implementation of the 2026 budget, except for the payment of salaries, pending the release and consideration of the requested financial records by the legislative arm.
Kenneth was subsequently suspended in connection with the dispute over his transparency campaign.
Detention and Bail
The councillor was later arraigned before the Federal High Court in Asaba on the cyberstalking charge and remanded at the Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centre after his initial bail request was unsuccessful.
His lawyer, Evans Ufeli, has continued to pursue his release on bail.
The court is expected to rule on the latest bail application on September 22, 2026.
Family members and supporters have also expressed concern about Kenneth’s condition in detention, alleging that he has experienced significant physical discomfort during his period in custody.
Controversy Over Alleged Debt Payments
The case has attracted renewed attention amid Nigeria’s wider debate over local government autonomy, accountability and access to public financial information.
In a circulating video, social media commentator Mr. CommonSense raised an alarm over Kenneth’s continued detention and questioned why a councillor seeking information about local government spending should face a cyberstalking charge.
He also alleged that Delta State local government funds were being used to service financial obligations incurred by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa during his political activities.
Those claims remain allegations and have not been independently verified.
The commentator called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Okowa to address the controversy and demanded Kenneth’s release.
The Ukwuani Local Government chairman, the Delta State Government and former Governor Okowa have not, in the information presented, issued detailed responses addressing the specific allegations surrounding the alleged use of council funds.
With Kenneth’s bail ruling expected on September 22, the case has continued to generate debate over the balance between the right of elected representatives to demand accountability and the responsibility of public officials to protect against unlawful or allegedly false statements.
The court proceedings are expected to continue as the parties present their respective cases.
