A physically challenged constituent of Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State has spent about two weeks in prison, allegedly after asking questions about constituency projects linked to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
Emenike Okorie, 49, is being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja following his arrest in Abia State and transfer to the capital.
His lawyer, human rights advocate Deji Adeyanju, disclosed the detention to SaharaReporters on Tuesday.
“My client was tracked in Abia and brought to Abuja, and immediately they remanded him at Kuje Prison. He is physically challenged,” Adeyanju said.
“He was remanded for demanding accountability from the Deputy Speaker, who represented my client’s constituency. He has been remanded for two weeks now.”
The arrest has stirred anger among residents and groups in Bende, with calls mounting for Kalu to facilitate Okorie’s release.
Tracka Flags ₦1.4bn in Constituency Projects
The controversy centres on several constituency projects reportedly captured in the Federal Government’s budget and linked to communities in Bende.
A civic accountability organisation, Tracka, raised questions about more than ₦1.4 billion reportedly released for five projects between September and December 2025.
Tracka said some of the projects were either uncompleted or could not be identified during community verification exercises.
According to its findings, the projects include two hybrid automated cassava processing centres in Ezeukwu and Umuhu Ezechi communities.
Others are a 2-kilometre Amaeke–Umuhu Ezechi road and 579 solar-powered streetlights meant for Igbere A, Igbere B and Ugwueke/Ezeukwu wards.
One major concern involves the ₦348 million Hybrid Cassava Processing Mill reportedly meant for Umuhu Ezechi.
Residents have demanded explanations about the location, construction and actual delivery of the facility.
The 2-kilometre Amaeke–Umuhu Ezechi road has also attracted questions over its reported abandonment.
In Igbere and Ugwueke, residents are asking about the 579 solar streetlights reportedly captured and paid for under constituency projects.
Tracka’s report, published in June 2026, said its verification exercise found significant gaps between reported disbursements and what could be physically established in the communities.
Six-Count Cybercrime Charge Filed
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police has filed a six-count criminal charge against Okorie before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/710/2026 and dated October 26, 2026, accuses the 49-year-old of offences under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024.
Prosecutors allege Okorie circulated messages on the Umuhu Ezechi Development Union WhatsApp platform containing information he knew to be false.
They allege the messages were intended to bully, threaten or harass the Deputy Speaker and damage his reputation.
One disputed message reportedly concerned the ₦348 million garri-processing project meant for Umuhu Ezechi.
In the message reproduced in the charge, Okorie allegedly accused Kalu of using the community’s name to secure money for a processing plant that he said did not exist.
Residents, HURIWA Demand Release
Residents of Bende have insisted that asking questions about government-funded projects should not be treated as an attack on an elected representative.
An appeal circulating among residents called for Okorie’s immediate and unconditional release.
“Arresting and intimidating our people will not make you win an election. You cannot silence the voices of the people of Bende through fear, intimidation or harassment,” the appeal stated.
“No one should be punished for expressing an opinion or speaking up for their community. We demand justice. We demand fairness. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Emenike Okorie!”
Another appeal, titled “Demanding Accountability Is Not An Insult. Silencing The People Is Not Leadership!”, accused office holders of treating legitimate questions as personal attacks.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) also demanded Okorie’s release in a statement issued on November 9, 2026.
HURIWA called for ₦100 million compensation over what it described as alleged arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention.
Its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, questioned why a constituent seeking explanations about public resources should end up in prison.
The group also expressed concern about Okorie’s physical condition, noting that he uses a walking stick.
HURIWA called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest and continued detention.
