Odama, a native of Bekwarra Local Government Area in Northern Cross River State, is pursuing a doctorate degree in a Varsity in Lagos.
By Frank Ulom
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Published on August 11, 2026
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3 min read
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a car dealer, Denis Odama, on Sunday, in Lagos, claiming he bullied Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, on social media.
Odama, a native of Bekwarra Local Government Area in Northern Cross River State, is pursuing a doctorate degree in a Varsity in Lagos.
Today, Tuesday, his kinsman and fellow businessman, Tom Alims took to Facebook to announce that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of FESTAC Division in Lagos told his associates that the arrest was because Mr. Odama bullied the Governor on Social Media.
Odama has been a satirical critic of governance in his home State.
Last weekend, he shared a screenshot of a post he wrote in August 2024 where he had said the good news was that Governor Otu had ordered the restoration of public electricity in Bekwarra and criticised the failure to deliver that.
“Two years after Governor Bassey Otu ordered the restoration of electricity in Bekwarra, Bekwarra still wallows in darkness with no electricity in sight. All we hear are blames and counter blames from those given money to fix light,” Odama wrote.
He added that; “Governor just dashed his friends in Bekwarra money to share in the name of awarding contracts, otherwise he will hold them accountable.”
But, Alims pointed out that there are claims the Governor is not aware of the situation as an aide may have dropped his name to get the Police to act.
“2 Policemen have just showed up at DIVISIONAL POLICE HEAD QUARTERS FESTAC TOWN LAGOS, UNDER AREA E FESTAC TOWN LAGOS, claiming to be from Cross River State and are sent to take Denis back to Calabar, Cross River State,” Alims wrote on Facebook, Tuesday afternoon.
He continued: “The DPO of the Station has informed those on ground that Denis Odama is being arrested for “Bullying The Governor of Cross River State, HE, Prince Bassey Edet Otu on Social Media.”
He further added that, ” From different quarters, we’re (sic) told His Excellency is not aware of this arrest.”
CrossRiverWatch reported that Odama was due for an examination on Tuesday but missed it due to his arrest which Jonathan Ugbal, the Deputy National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement describes as an “abduction.”
“This is clearly an abduction and nothing more! There is no actual reason stated yet by the Police and it has been 48 hours.
“I won’t be surprised if they are shopping for an order from the Courts which are on vacation anyway to detain him as a punishment! It is a cycle we have seen being repeated.
“It is unfortunate that despite the law clearly stating that investigation must precede arrests, we still find the Police being used as a tool for oppressive acts.
“We demand his immediate release,” Jonathan said.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, Alims shared an update, saying the two Policemen from the Cross River State command visited the FESTAC Division of the Police Force in Lagos State to ensure Odama is moved out on Tuesday night.
However, that was resisted by friends and colleagues who were there.
The Divisional Police Officer later asked them to return on Wednesday morning.
The story will continue to develop. We’ll update this article as more comes in. If you have information you think we should know, please use our secure tip line, WhatsApp, email or contact page.
