By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—SENIOR Special Assistant to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on Media and Publicity, Mr. Curtis Ugbo, has been arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate court in the state for criticizing the governor on the internet and unlawful possession of  a double barrelled gun.

Ugbo, 47, was arraigned on a three-count charge of publishing an article against the governor in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 249(d) of the criminal code, Cap. 48, Vol. II, laws of the Defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 as applicable in Edo State.

Police prosecutor, Inspector S. Iredia, told the court that the governor’s aide committed the offence on April 12, 2016 at Ugbor Road, with the caption: What’s wrong with my boss?

Part of the post reads: “The ground breaking of Edo State owned cement industry in partnership with a private company under Public Private Partnership and stakeholders, no state House members or Speaker and National Assembly member’s presence was noticed. Is Edo State now a personal business of Oshiomhole?”

The police in the charge sheet with No: Mor/2314/2016, also accused the governor’s aide of unlawful possession of a double barrelled gun without a duly acquired valid license

After listening to the charges, the trial magistrate, C. Nwoha granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety  who must own a property with Certificate of Occupancy.