Popular Niger-Delta activist, Owoupele Eneonekumoh, widely known as Owous, has pleaded not guilty to a new charge brought against him at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The case is presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is prosecuting Owous on a single count of cyberstalking, stemming from a petition he allegedly submitted against Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The charge alleges that Owous, of Stellaâs Estate, Okutukutu in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, circulated a petition through WhatsApp, Facebook, and other platforms, accusing Dr. Otuaro of threatening to kill protesters at Mbiama Junction and sponsoring attacks in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region.
According to the prosecution, Owous knew the claims were false and intended to damage Otuaroâs reputation, harass him, and instill fear among Bayelsa residents. The alleged offence is said to contravene section 24(1)(a) and (b)(2)(a) and (c), punishable under section 24(2)(i)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention Act, 2025) as amended in 2024.
The case, numbered FHC/CR/325/2025, was filed on July 28, 2025, and served on Owous on August 20, shortly after he was discharged by a Magistrate Court in Abuja.
Owousâ lawyer, Dr. S. M. Oyeghe, told the court that the charge was only served on his client at about 6:30 pm on August 20 by the prosecutor, A. S. Oyeyemi, despite being filed weeks earlier. He argued that the delay was deliberate and meant to frustrate bail proceedings.
A motion for bail was filed and served in court the same day. Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to August 28, 2025, for hearing of the bail application.
Re-Arrest After Release
Just days earlier, Chronicles Reporters had reported that Owous was re-arrested three days after regaining freedom from the Nigeria Correctional Centre, where he spent nearly two months.
According to eyewitnesses, the activist was taken into custody outside a Magistrate Court by men identifying themselves as officers of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT). This happened immediately after the prosecutor, O. S. Oyeyemi, withdrew the earlier charges against him.
A source alleged that the fresh arrest was instigated by Dr. Otuaro, who reportedly vowed that the activist âmust remain behind bars for 10 years.â
Longstanding Feud With Amnesty Office
Owous, Convener of the Reformed Niger-Delta Ex-Agitators Forum, has been a fierce critic of the Amnesty Programme office. He has consistently accused its leadership of corruption, shady contract awards, and mismanagement of funds.
Through his counsel, Dr. Oyeghe, the Forum had earlier petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the Otuaro-led PAP. The petition cited several breaches of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
Among the allegations were contracts awarded to inactive or non-qualifying firms such as Zeechy Multi-Concept Limited, Triple Two Oil and Gas Ltd, and NexGen Quantum Edge Consultancy Solutions Ltd.
The petition also listed irregular and duplicated contract descriptions, as well as questionable payments of N131,800,000, N162,412,500, and N5,500,000 into the personal accounts of individuals including Philip Denis Fayeofuri, Neware Oyakemegbegha, and Abate Doris Inekiengha.
Another allegation centered on the award of 12 contracts worth over N713 million between June and August 2024 to NexGen Quantum Edge Consultancy Solutions Ltd., a company only incorporated in April 2024.
Arrest And Detention
Owous was first arrested on June 6, 2025, following a petition by Otuaro. He was arraigned on June 23 on charges of criminal conspiracy and defamation linked to his corruption allegations against the Amnesty boss.
He remained in custody at Keffi Correctional Centre until his eventual discharge. Prior to that, he had openly accused Otuaro of embezzlement, illegal contract awards, and lack of transparency in the Amnesty Office.
President Bola Tinubu had appointed Dr. Otuaro as Amnesty Programme Administrator in March 2024, succeeding Maj. Gen. Barry Ndiomu (retd.), who had served as interim head since September 2022 under the Buhari administration.
Owousâ detention followed his public demands for accountability, improved stipends for programme beneficiaries, and greater transparency in PAPâs budget.
Witnesses recalled that on June 11, 2025, he was picked up by heavily armed officers of the Bayelsa State Police Command on Sports Complex Road in Yenagoa, an area known as Kpofada Police Outfit. He was later transferred to Abuja and placed in solitary confinement at the IRT facility.
Reports suggest Otuaroâs hostility towards Owous was fueled by his consistent demands for accountability and increased stipends for ex-agitators under the programme.
Peaceful Protest Plans
In separate letters to the Chief of Army Staff, Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), and the Inspector General of Police, Owous had given notice of his plan to lead a peaceful protest against alleged corruption in the Amnesty Office.
He accused Otuaro of unfair treatment, misuse of increased budgetary allocations, and allowing infiltration of the programme by non-agitators. His letters called for a discreet investigation into the allegations.
In response, Otuaro reportedly filed a petition dated May 29, 2025, which directly led to Owousâ arrest and subsequent detention.
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