The Kogi State Police Command has arrested a lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Elijah Olorunsuwa, over comments he allegedly made on a community WhatsApp group concerning a road reconstruction project in the state.
Olorunsuwa, who is also a social commentator, was reportedly arrested at his residence in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday morning and taken to Kogi State following a petition against him.
The petition was reportedly written by Jerry Omodara, Security Adviser to the Kogi State Government, who accused the lecturer of making false and malicious claims about the funding of the Kabba-Oke-Offin-Olle-Iluke road reconstruction project.
The controversy began after a member of a community WhatsApp group posted information about the road project. Olorunsuwa reportedly responded that the project was sponsored by the World Bank, with the Kogi State Government expected to provide counterpart funding.
Omodara disputed the claim, maintaining that the project was being funded by the Kogi State Government.
In his petition to the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Omodara described the lecturer’s statement as false and alleged that it was intended to mislead members of the public and discredit the state government.
He requested that Olorunsuwa be investigated and asked to provide documents from the World Bank to substantiate his claim.
Olorunsuwa, however, said police officers arrived at his home at about 5am to arrest him and did not present an arrest warrant when he requested one.
According to him, he initially agreed to follow the officers to a police facility in Ilorin after requesting to use his own vehicle. He said the officers later took him to Kogi instead, despite an earlier understanding that he would be taken to the Kwara State Police Command.
The lecturer was subsequently shown the petition at the police station in Kogi.
Olorunsuwa said he had been asked to retract his comments, but maintained that he had already deleted the messages following intervention by community elders.
Omodara, however, said the lecturer refused to retract what he described as a false claim and confirmed that he had asked him to withdraw the statement.
The lecturer was released later the same day and was asked to return to the police on Thursday.
The police have not publicly announced the outcome of the investigation or whether formal charges have been filed against the lecturer.
The case has generated discussion over the handling of social media comments and allegations of false information, particularly where such comments concern government projects and public officials.
