The UK-based Nigerian blogger, Maureen Badejo, who voluntarily honoured a police invitation last Friday has now spent four days in detention without trial, Starnews NG reports.
She flew from the UK on Wednesday to comply with an alleged summons from Interpol regarding an unresolved issue with the Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman.
Reports indicate that she arrived at the Interpol office in Adekunle, Yaba, Lagos, last week Wednesday and was instructed to return on Friday. Sources revealed that upon her arrival on Friday, she was asked to wait and was subsequently transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), where she is currently detained.
It was gathered her transfer followed an alleged petition by the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Pastor Daniel Olukoya. Badejo’s lawyer, Chief George Ogunjimi, disclosed to newsmen that it was the new petition that has led to her continued detention and transfer to the Alagbon detention facility in Lagos.
As of today, Tuesday, she has spent four days in detention without being arraigned in court and has not yet been released, Starnews can report.
Prominent Nigerians, including Omoyele Sowore, have called for her unconditional release, emphasising that Nigerians have the right to voice criticism, regardless of the subject matter.
Sowore provided an update yesterday on his Meta page, alleging, “This evening, I was briefed that the police suddenly decided not to take Maureen Badejo to court as earlier planned.
“Instead, they demanded that she produce two sureties, one of whom must be a level 16 civil servant, before she could be released from detention at the SCID, Panti, where she is currently being held illegally.
“After a while, the officers reportedly escalated their unlawful demands, insisting that even after producing sureties, Maureen must sign an undertaking not to reveal what she witnessed while in detention and must also cease all criticism of Dr Olukoya.
“Maureen’s refusal to surrender her constitutional and God-given rights under duress has apparently led the police to prolong her detention.
“A Senior Advocate of Nigeria present at the station reportedly warned the police that no crime had been established and reminded them that criminal defamation cannot be tried in Lagos. He also pointed out that the Cybercrime Act 2015, as amended, cannot sustain any arraignment against Maureen Badejo.
“Despite these warnings, the police remain recalcitrant, arrogant, and hostile towards Maureen’s family members. Free Maureen now,” Sowore stated on his Facebook page yesterday.
Despite the public outcry across social media, Starnews NG reports that the police have yet to issue any official statement regarding the situation, as calls for her release continue to intensify throughout Nigeria
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