By David Oluyide
Social media critic, Denis Odama, has regained his freedom after spending roughly 11 days in detention over allegations of cyberbullying and harassment involving Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu.
Odama was arrested in Lagos on August 9, 2026, and subsequently taken to Cross River State, where he was remanded by a Magistrate following his arraignment.
His release was announced on Thursday by human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, who said the activist was freed following sustained advocacy and a directive from Governor Otu.
Odama also confirmed his freedom in a Facebook post on Thursday where he wrote, “They thought they were arresting Denis Odama. They didn’t know they were arresting son of GRACE.”
“Thank you, Cross River. You stood with me and I will always stand with you,” he added, raising his fists.
Ogun, in a statement shared on Thursday, said, “Denis Odama is finally freed from arbitrary detention. No citizen should ordinarily be jailed for speaking truth to power.”
According to him, Odama was “arrested and thrown into the gulags over trumped-up cyberbullying allegations” after a petition allegedly authored by some appointees of the governor.
He said the petition was purportedly written “without the Governor’s consent or knowledge.”
Ogun said Otu, after becoming aware of Odama’s detention through advocacy efforts, “commendably directed that Odama be released immediately.”
He, however, maintained that the arrest should not have occurred in the first place, arguing that Odama should not be criminalised for criticising the governor.
“We maintain that his arrest should not have happened in the first place. Odama is not a criminal and shouldn’t be treated as one for merely criticising Bassey Otu,” the lawyer wrote.
He added that Odama was a citizen who should not be intimidated through what he described as “strategic lawsuit” aimed at diminishing his participation in public affairs.
The lawyer urged the activist to continue holding public authorities accountable.
The lawyer had, four days earlier, called for Odama’s immediate release, arguing that his arrest and detention violated his constitutional rights.
He said Odama’s advocacy for accountability, transparency and good governance in Cross River State did not constitute a crime, adding that criticism of elected public officials was protected under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution.
Ogun also argued that Odama’s detention before his court appearance on August 13 constituted a violation of Section 35 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to personal liberty.
He further warned against the alleged use of the Cybercrimes Act to suppress free expression and civic commentary.
He thanked the legal team, particularly its head, @firstbabaisa, for providing what he described as leadership and operational direction that contributed to Odama’s release.
The development comes amid continuing concerns over the use of criminal laws and police powers in cases involving criticism of public officials and civic expression.
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