Secrets Reporters
Weeks after SecretsReporters exposed the troubling case of Abdul Hameed, also known online as “Ododo D’Flower Boiz Vanguard”, who was arrested and detained for nearly five months over a Facebook post, the Kogi State Government has finally broken its silence, offering a counter-narrative to mounting public condemnation.
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The state’s response, released in a statement signed by Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, seeks to absolve the government of any wrongdoing in the saga that has sparked outrage across Nigeria and beyond. The arrest, which was initially reported to have been carried out at the behest of the State Accountant-General, Habibat Oyiza Tijjani, followed a February 13 social media post where Hameed criticized Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s political affiliations and accused Tijjani of overstepping her bounds in local governance matters.
While activists, civil society actors, and online commentators had insisted that Hameed was being held without trial, a claim that gained international attention after UK-based activist Ogawahab Aliu raised alarm in a podcast conducted in the Ebira language, the Kogi State Government has now clarified that due legal process was followed. According to the official statement, Hameed voluntarily honored a police invitation after the state petitioned law enforcement for an investigation into what it described as a “clearly defamatory post.” The government claims Hameed confessed to authoring ... and was subsequently charged in court, where a competent judge ordered his remand.
The government strongly denied claims that the young man is being detained arbitrarily, describing such allegations as “false, baseless, and intended to mislead the public.” Officials further argued that defamation is not protected under freedom of speech and accused Hameed of being a political pawn used by unnamed actors disgruntled by Governor Ododo’s governance reforms.
This justification, however, has done little to quell public concern. Prior to the government’s statement, online commentary and reactions painted a picture of systemic repression, particularly against young people in the Ebira-speaking regions of the state. Multiple Facebook users claimed that enforced disappearances and politically motivated detentions have become routine under successive administrations. One user, Usman Usman, stated that his brother was abducted similarly during a previous government and has remained missing. Others alleged that as many as three young men were detained during former Governor Yahaya Bello’s tenure and have not been seen since.
The government’s statement pointedly references another controversial case, that of activist Austin Okai, who faced prosecution under Bello’s administration but was reportedly pardoned after issuing a public apology. Fanwo drew parallels between Okai’s situation and that of Hameed, warning young people not to allow themselves to be manipulated by politicians who allegedly abandon them when legal consequences arise. “Even more tragic,” the statement noted, “is the fact that Abdulhamid has now been abandoned by those who instigated him.”
While the government insists that the legal process is being followed, human rights lawyers continue to express concern over the prolonged duration of Hameed’s detention. They argue that even if remanded by a court, holding a citizen for months without a trial conclusion or transparent updates on proceedings violates several provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These include Section 35, which guarantees personal liberty; Section 36, which affirms the right to a fair hearing; and Section 39, which protects freedom of expression.
The situation has also raised broader questions about the shrinking space for dissent in Kogi State. Despite boasting of investments in roads, healthcare, education, and youth empowerment, the administration appears to have little tolerance for public criticism, especially when directed at high-ranking officials.
SecretsReporters attempted to obtain court documents referenced by the government or locate details of Hameed’s alleged confession and arraignment. Still, as of press time, no official court filings or public legal records had been made available.
The matter continues to polarize public opinion. While some applaud the government for defending its reputation, many others see the incident as part of a pattern of abuse of power, especially against voices critical of those in authority. Until Hameed appears in an open court proceeding, and a fair legal process is demonstrably underway, questions will linger about the credibility of the government’s narrative and the larger issue of free speech and political persecution in Kogi State.