Ebonyi Activist Calls for Release of Alefia Friday James After Transfer to Abuja Prison

An outspoken appeal for the release of Alefia Friday James — reportedly arrested in Lagos and transferred to custody in Abuja — has been issued by Comrade Jeremiah Obaji Nworu, an activist who gained national attention for trekking from Lagos to Abakaliki in 2024.

In a statement dated 27 October 2025, Nworu described James’s detention as an overreach that turns what should be a civil dispute into a criminal matter. He said he does not condone cyberbullying but argued that alleged online disagreements should be resolved through the courts rather than by arrests and prolonged imprisonment.

“I detest cyberbullying in any form,” Nworu said. “But civil matters that ought to be litigated in court are increasingly being criminalised by security agencies acting at the behest of powerful individuals.” He urged Hon. Chinedu Ogah — the House of Representatives member for Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency, who is reported to have instituted action over the alleged online conduct — to follow due process.

Nworu called James’s continued detention “a clear violation of fundamental human rights,” noting the activist’s understanding that the detained man has been held for over a month. He also raised concerns about James’s health, saying he had been informed that the detainee’s condition had worsened while in custody.

The activist drew a parallel between James’s case and that of 66-year-old social critic Kindness Jonah, who was previously detained after posting online critiques. Nworu asked the lawmaker to permit judicial resolution where necessary rather than resorting to extra-judicial detention, saying: “Hon. Ogah should seek redress through the courts when he feels his rights have been trampled, not by using influence to arrest, torture or arbitrarily detain suspects over civil matters.”

Nworu, founder of the Okpoku Udo Foundation, which promotes peace and civic engagement in Ebonyi State, also urged youths to address governance issues with policy suggestions rather than personal attacks that can lead to intimidation and incarceration.

As of publication, neither Hon. Chinedu Ogah nor officials in Lagos or Abuja had issued a public response to Nworu’s appeal. Details about the precise charges, the circumstances of James’s arrest, and the location of his detention remain limited in public reporting.

The original report of the appeal was shared on social media; readers are advised that follow-up statements from authorities will be required to verify specifics of the arrest and any official legal proceedings.