The Abia State Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Comrade Ugwumba Adiele, has reportedly been arrested by police officers believed to be from Abuja over a N5bn defamation suit instituted by the member representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency, Hon. Chris Nkwonta.
A source familiar with the development told our correspondent that Adiele was arrested at about 8.10pm on Friday, September 11, 2026, at his residence in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
However, the circumstances surrounding the arrest could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
It was also unclear whether the arrest was connected directly to the pending suit before the FCT High Court, Court 59, Asokoro, Abuja, or whether it followed a separate police complaint or legal process.
The civil suit reportedly centres on statements allegedly made by Adiele on social media concerning the handling of constituency projects.
Nkwonta is said to be seeking N5bn in damages, alleging that the statements were false and had damaged his reputation.
One of the issues reportedly raised in the dispute concerns allegations that the lawmaker’s biological children were appointed as incorporated trustees to manage a Federal Government project.
The allegations have not been established by a court.
Adiele, a former Special Assistant on New Media to Nkwonta and his constituency collation agent during the 2023 National Assembly election, had previously described the suit as unfair treatment.
Speaking with HopeAlive Media before his reported arrest, Adiele confirmed that he had been served with a writ of summons in which the lawmaker demanded N5bn in damages over alleged defamatory statements.
He said the matter was before the court and denied defaming Nkwonta.
The PDP youth leader attributed the disagreement largely to his demand for more than 12 months of outstanding salaries, although the claim could not be independently verified.
According to Adiele, his relationship with the lawmaker deteriorated after the PDP Deputy Governorship candidate, Elder Abraham Amah, visited Ukwa East on a thank-you tour on January 15, 2025.
He alleged that Amah criticised some PDP members who won elections on the party’s platform but later defected, including Nkwonta.
Adiele claimed that his failure to challenge Amah over the remarks contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with the lawmaker.
“After the meeting, Nkwonta severed his relationship with me from that day up until today for not insulting and challenging the state party’s Deputy Governorship candidate during a gathering where he was criticised. From that moment, he cut ties with me and stopped paying my salary,” Adiele alleged.
He further claimed that repeated attempts to resolve the disagreement, including requests for payment of his outstanding salaries or the formal termination of his appointment, were unsuccessful.
“I did everything within my power to get Chief Nkwonta’s attention, but out of his natural habitat and pride, he refused to give me a listening ear, and that was what led to my resignation,” he said.
Adiele also alleged that tensions increased after he raised questions about accountability concerning a constituency project reportedly facilitated by Nkwonta.
He, however, did not provide documents to substantiate the allegation.
The former aide said he subsequently received a legal notice directing him to appear before the FCT High Court on June 3, 2026.
He also recalled using his personal vehicle for official duties, including transporting aides, claiming that the vehicle eventually broke down after he was allegedly promised a replacement.
“Instead of being compensated, I am now facing a lawsuit,” he lamented.
The reported arrest does not, in itself, establish liability in the defamation suit, as the court is yet to determine the merits of the claims and defences presented by the parties.
Attempts to obtain Nkwonta’s reaction to the reported arrest and Adiele’s allegations were unsuccessful as of press time.
It was also not immediately possible to establish the identity of the officers involved, the police command responsible for the operation or whether Adiele had been formally charged or released.
No official statement linking the reported arrest directly to the pending civil proceedings was available as of the time of filing this report.
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