Police Invite Suspended Anambra Lawmaker Over Alleged Defamation, Cyberbullying

The police in Anambra State have invited a suspended member of the State House of Assembly, Bernard Udemezue, for questioning over allegations of defamation, cyberbullying and the spread of false information.

Mr Udemezue, who represents Ayamelum Constituency, disclosed the invitation on Monday by posting a copy of the police letter on his Facebook page. The letter, dated 17 December 2025, was signed by Jude Ohaja, an assistant commissioner of police, on behalf of the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka.

According to the letter, the invitation followed an ongoing investigation based on a petition reportedly filed by the Anambra State Government. Mr Udemezue was directed to appear before the deputy commissioner of police at the SCID on 23 December 2025 by noon through the officer in charge of the D5 Section. The letter did not specify the statements or actions that allegedly constituted the offences.

Mr Udemezue, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, has been engaged in a prolonged dispute with the leadership of the Anambra State House of Assembly. In a recent interview with Wazobia FM in Onitsha, he said the conflict began after an opposition lawmaker was removed from the assembly’s WhatsApp platform for allegedly insulting a colleague said to be close to the Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

He claimed that the lawmaker from the ruling party, whom he accused of initiating the exchange, was not removed from the platform despite appeals to the Speaker. Mr Udemezue further alleged that another ally of the Speaker later insulted him and that his request for disciplinary action was ignored, prompting him to respond in kind.

Mr Udemezue said his responses led to his suspension from the assembly for three months in August, a suspension that was later extended by another three months after he was accused of failing to meet conditions set for reinstatement. He stated that apology letters he submitted were initially rejected on procedural grounds and that a revised letter has not received any response.

Beyond his dispute with the assembly, the suspended lawmaker has also been openly critical of Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State. In a Facebook post on 28 November, he alleged that the governor sometimes spent public funds without proper budgeting. He also accused the governor of disrespecting the House by failing to bow to the mace after presenting the 2026 budget estimates.

Mr Udemezue argued that bowing to the mace symbolises respect for the constituencies represented in the assembly and claimed that lawmakers present during the incident remained silent because they may have been supported by the governor during their elections.