Onoh Slams Cubana Chief Priest, Warns Against Unguarded Attacks on Ebonyi Gov

The former southeast spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of Enugu State House of Assembly Denge. Josef Onoh, has issued a stern warning to businessman and socialite Paschal Chibuike Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, over his recent disparaging remarks and verbal attacks directed at the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru (FON).

Cubana Chief Priest had criticised the Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, calling on him to step down, claiming that Nwifuru had spent over three years in office without, in his view, having major projects commissioned by President Bola Tinubu or other state governors. He also claimed that Ebonyi state was lagging behind other South East states.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, Onoh cautioned that social media fame and youthful exuberance do not elevate anyone above the law, stressing that the constitutional dignity of a state's chief executive must be respected. He advised the socialite to immediately restrain his utterances or prepare to face the full weight of Nigerian law.

Onoh noted with concern the growing trend of digital misbehaviour, where internet sensation is misconstrued as legal immunity and warned there are Limitations of Youthful Rascality.

Onoh warned Mr. Pascal Okechukwu that Fame is Not Immunity, Wealth, social media followership, and influence do not grant a license to denigrate state institutions or their leaders. 

Onoh warned Mr. Okechukwu in what he termed Misguided Exuberance and the continuous deployment of verbal rascality on digital platforms to settle personal or political scores reveals a profound lack of civic responsibility.

Onoh also highlighted Erosion of Value wherein using online spaces by Mr. Okechukwu to launch unprovoked vitriol against a sitting governor crosses the line from free speech into malicious provocation.

Onoh pointed directly to the specific, public statements made by Cubana Chief Priest via his official Instagram account, outlining how they directly cross the line into legally actionable offenses. 

Onoh said that Mr.Pascal Okechukwu's demands for Unconstitutional Resignation of Governor Nwifru By publicly demanding that the Governor "step down" and labeling the administration a "failure" over unverified metrics, was wrong and Mr. Pascal Okechukwu bypasses established constitutional processes as this false declaration constitutes Malicious Falsehood and civil Defamation, calculated to lower the reputation of the Governor of Ebonyi State in the eyes of the public.

Also Mr. Pascal Okechukwu's claims that Ebonyi's leaders are "not wise enough" and "still living in the past" directly violate Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act because this section criminalizes the transmission of network messages known to be false for the sole purpose of causing insult, injury, or ill-will.

Onoh said that Mr. Okechukwu's alarmist Incitement and False Threat Narratives he was resharing political rebuttals with captions like, "Does it warrant me to be dealt with... I’m so scared now. Pray for Cp," is a deliberate attempt to frame a state executive as a physical threat. Hinting that a sitting governor is plotting harm against a citizen constitutes Criminal Incitement designed to spark public hostility and orchestrate online harassment.

Onoh reminded Mr.Pascal Okechukwu that the Office of Ebonyi State Governor is protected by robust constitutional safeguards, and any attempt to bring it into disrepute will be met with systemic legal resistance. 

Onoh warned Mr. Pascal Okechukwu that Under Section 176(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Governor is the Chief Executive of the State and the custodian of its executive powers. An attack on the Governor is an assault on the collective dignity of Ebonyi people he represents.

Also By virtue of Section 176 and Section 215(4) of the Constitution, Governor Nwifru holds a pivotal role in maintaining public order and security. Inciting statements capable of causing disaffection within the state can be legally suppressed to maintain peace, Onoh stated. 

Onoh reminded Mr. Pascal Okechukwu that while a sitting governor enjoys immunity from prosecution under Section 308, the state government or the individual holding the office can institute civil or criminal actions against defamation and incitement.

Onoh highlighted the specific legal frameworks where Cubana Chief Priest's online comments against the Ebonyi State Government went against the laws especially Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act: which states Under Section 24 of the Act, sending messages via a computer system or the internet that are intended to cause insult, enmity, hatred, or ill-will against another person carries heavy criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

Criminal Code Act / Penal Code Laws of Nigeria which strictly prohibits intentional insult and behavior likely to cause a breach of the peace. Publishing defamatory matter capable of injuring the reputation of a public official to expose them to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule is a punishable offense.

Onoh went further to highlight Civil Defamation and said the unguarded statements of Mr. Pascal Okechukwu exposed the socialite to multi-billion naira civil lawsuits for injury to character, loss of reputation, and malicious falsehood. 

Onoh said that the courts have consistently awarded heavy damages against individuals who use digital platforms to assassinate the character of public officers.

In conclusion, Onoh warned Mr.Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu that Ebonyi State is a sub-national sovereign entity with a government fully empowered by law to protect its integrity," Onoh stated. "The era of unchecked digital rascality is over. Mr. Pascal Okechukwu must understand that the law is no respecter of 'celebrity' status. If he continues his unwarranted verbal warfare against the Ebonyi State Governor, he will soon discover that the legal machinery of this country moves slowly but grinds exceedingly fine. 

Onoh advised he channels his energy into productive ventures rather than inviting avoidable legal catastrophes upon himself."