Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, betrayed his intolerance of criticism yet again on Thursday with the arraignment of his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Curtis Ugbo, for allegedly posting anti-government remarks on Facebook.
The 47-year-old was also charged with illegal gun possession.
Ugbo was said to have committed the offence on April 12, at 2B, Ugbor Road, Benin.
He was docked at an Oredo Magistrate’s Court in Benin, the state capital.
The offensive Facebook post which was read in the Court, said: “What is wrong with my boss? The ground breaking of Edo State owned cement industry in partnership with private company under government public partnership and stakeholders, no State House member or Speaker and National Assembly member present.”
According to the Prosecutor, Sylvester Omor, an ASP, the said statement was targeted at Edo State Government and was capable of disturbing public peace.
Omor also told the court that the accused unlawfully had in his possession a double barrel gun without a valid licence to cover it.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 59 (1), 249 (d) and 430 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap. 48, Vol. II, laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976, now applicable in Edo.
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. C.A. Nwoha, who granted the accused person bail in sum of N100,000 and a surety in like sum who must be a landed property, adjourned the case till April 26, for hearing.
Ugbo, a strong supporter of Deputy Governor Dr Pius Odubu’s governorship aspiration, has since deleted the Facebook post.
Oshiomhole had earlier ripped into Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, for criticising foundation laying ceremony of the Okpella Cement Factory in on Sunday, April 10.
Until his defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, Ugbo was the leader of a group known as Jonathan Shall Lead Again.
