The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for an independent investigation into what it described as troubling due process concerns surrounding the arrest, prolonged detention and remand of a 33-year-old computer programmer, Mr Ude Chikadibia Mastertruth, also known as Victor Ude, in Imo State.
In a report released by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma on Friday, the rights organisation questioned the circumstances that led to Ude’s arrest in Abuja, his nearly two-week detention at the Imo State Police Command’s State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and his subsequent arraignment without his lawyer being present.
RULAAC urged the police to provide the legal basis for the detention and called for urgent judicial intervention to safeguard the suspect’s constitutional rights.
Ude was reportedly arrested in Abuja on August 19, 2026, transferred to Imo State, and detained from August 20 at the X-Squad of the State CID in Owerri.
According to the report, the case stemmed from a dispute involving Ude, who had reportedly served as a pastor for about nine years under Apostle Love Judah of Truth Assembly International Churches in Owerri, and allegations made by his wife, Miracle Ude, about an alleged intimate relationship involving the cleric.
RULAAC said the disagreement allegedly escalated after Miracle informed both her husband and her father of the alleged relationship, leading to a confrontation with the cleric.
The report further alleged that Magistrate Akuna Opara, whom it described as a serving judicial officer and pastor associated with the church, became involved after speaking with Apostle Love Judah. According to Ude’s father, the Magistrate later contacted Miracle’s father and warned him against making statements about the cleric.
The advocacy group said Ude subsequently made several social media posts concerning the Magistrate while living in Abuja with his wife, and those publications later formed a substantial part of the criminal complaint against him.
RULAAC said that since Ude’s arrest, repeated attempts by his family to secure police bail were unsuccessful, with Ude remaining in custody until September 3, when he was arraigned before an Imo State Magistrate’s Court.
Nwanguma said RULAAC became involved after receiving a complaint from Ude’s father and contacted the investigating police officer to seek clarification on the prolonged detention.
According to the report, shortly after the inquiry, the family was informed that Ude was being taken to court, leaving insufficient time to arrange legal representation before his plea was taken. Although a lawyer referred by RULAAC arrived at the court, the report said the arraignment had already been concluded and the suspect was remanded in correctional custody.
Ude faces a five-count charge under Section 24(2)(a) and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
The charges include alleged threatening communications directed at Magistrate Opara and several social media publications questioning her professional integrity and alleging a relationship with Apostle Love Judah.
The organisation further stated that after taking his plea, the Magistrate reportedly held that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant bail but nevertheless ordered his remand, a development it said could prolong his detention because the courts are on annual vacation until October.
While stressing that further evidence would be required to establish whether police powers were deliberately used to pursue a private dispute, RULAAC said the sequence of events warranted independent scrutiny.
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It questioned why police bail was repeatedly denied, why the decision to arraign Ude came shortly after it contacted investigators, why the family received little notice of the arraignment, and whether the police independently assessed the allegations before filing criminal charges.
RULAAC recommended an urgent review of the complete case file, including any remand orders that authorised the period of police detention.
It also called for an examination of the competence of the five-count charge and the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Court, while urging lawyers to approach a court of competent jurisdiction, including a vacation court where available, to seek bail and other appropriate relief.
Beyond the immediate legal steps, the organisation called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ude’s arrest, detention, arraignment and remand to determine whether there was any abuse of police or judicial process.
Nwanguma maintained that, regardless of the allegations against the suspect, his constitutional rights to personal liberty, access to counsel, a fair hearing, and due process must be protected throughout the criminal proceedings.
