The Ebonyi South Youths Assembly has cautioned social media commentator, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, against what it described as sustained attacks on the judiciary and the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, urging him to channel his grievances through appropriate legal processes.
In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Odii Njoku, the group said it was compelled to respond to Nwoba's recent social media publication concerning the defamation suit instituted against him by Ogah, alleging that the publication contained unsubstantiated claims, inflammatory remarks and comments capable of undermining public confidence in the nation's judicial system.
The youth body maintained that there was nothing unusual about a public office holder seeking legal redress where he believes his reputation has been damaged, stressing that litigation remains a constitutionally guaranteed right and should not be portrayed as an attempt to intimidate critics.
"The courts exist to determine disputes based on evidence. Anyone who makes allegations against another citizen should be prepared to substantiate them before a competent court of law instead of conducting trials on social media," the statement read.
The Assembly further urged members of the public to treat unverified social media claims with caution, insisting that public discourse should be guided by facts, civility and respect for democratic institutions rather than insults, sensationalism and personal attacks.
While reaffirming that elected officials remain accountable to the people and open to public scrutiny, the group argued that criticism must be founded on verifiable facts and objective assessment instead of what it described as defamatory allegations and cyberbullying.
The group also faulted Nwoba's comments on the judiciary, describing attempts to discredit the courts over unfavourable judgments as irresponsible and capable of eroding public trust in one of the country's critical democratic institutions.
According to the Assembly, any person dissatisfied with a court judgment should seek redress through the appellate process rather than resorting to media campaigns or attacks on judicial officers.
On allegations by Nwoba concerning firearm possession and alleged attempts by Ogah to frame him, the group said such claims were serious in nature and should be presented before relevant law enforcement agencies and competent courts, rather than being prosecuted on social media.
The Assembly also defended Ogah's record in public service, describing him as a respected political figure whose contributions to education, youth empowerment and constituency development were well known across Ebonyi State.
It listed scholarship programmes, youth empowerment initiatives, construction of boreholes, support for farmers, skills acquisition programmes, housing assistance for widows and facilitation of appointments for young people among projects it said had been executed by the federal lawmaker.
The group further challenged Nwoba to publicly provide evidence in support of his allegations against Ogah and explain issues surrounding materials he allegedly generated and circulated online, insisting that anyone making serious accusations has a responsibility to substantiate them with credible evidence.
The Assembly urged Nwoba to respect the ongoing judicial proceedings by defending himself in court rather than attempting to influence public opinion through social media campaigns.
It reiterated its commitment to promoting responsible public discourse, respect for democratic institutions and issue-based political engagement, while condemning misinformation, character assassination and cyberbullying.
"We advise Mr. Nwoba to abandon politics of bitterness and embrace responsible civic engagement anchored on truth, evidence and respect for constituted authority. No individual is above criticism, including Hon. Chinedu Ogah, but such criticism must be factual, responsible and devoid of defamatory falsehoods. We have confidence that justice will prevail through the courts and not through social media campaigns," the statement added.
