Ukorebi Esien | August 18, 2026
CALABAR –The Cross River State Government has distanced Governor Bassey Otu and the state government from the arrest and prosecution of social commentator, Dennis Odama, saying the matter did not originate from the governor or the government.
Commissioner for Information, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, made the clarification during a media briefing at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, Calabar, while responding to questions on Odama’s arrest and ongoing legal proceedings.
Cobham said if the matter had originated from the state government, the appropriate government offices, including the Office of the Secretary to the State Government or the Attorney-General, would have handled it.
He explained that the petition was initiated by individuals who, although serving as government officials, acted in their personal capacities.
“The state government and the office of the Executive Governor should be alienated from this process because this process never originated from there,” Cobham said.
According to him, the fact that the petitioners are functionaries of the state government does not automatically make their personal action an action of the government.
The commissioner said the matter had entered the legal process following the petition and subsequent police action, stressing that the focus should now be on whether the alleged offence violated existing laws regulating the social media space and whether due process was followed.
He urged lawyers and other persons seeking to defend Odama to do so within the confines of the court rather than politicising the matter.
“Due process of the law is taking its course,” he said.
Odama was reportedly arrested by the police in Lagos before being transferred to Cross River, where he was arraigned and remanded in custody. A lawyer, Etaba Agbor, has separately called for his release, arguing that his detention raises concerns about constitutional freedoms and the rule of law.
Cobham, however, maintained that neither Governor Otu nor the state government should be held responsible for the prosecution, insisting that the legal process should be allowed to determine the matter.
He also challenged Odama to make public any information in his possession concerning allegations against the state government, rather than relying on social media platforms.
The commissioner further appealed to journalists to independently interrogate claims and counterclaims in the public space, promising greater access to government information under his administration.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Information would embark on a project-by-project assessment of government projects across the state, with journalists expected to participate in verifying their status.
According to him, the initiative would provide the media with reliable information on projects and enable journalists to hold government claims to scrutiny based on verified facts.
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