Rights Group CDHR Accuses Nigerian Police Of Judicial Persecution Over Prison Remand Of UK-Based Blogger, Maureen Badejo
.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has accused the Nigeria Police Force of engaging in “judicial persecution” in the arrest, hurried arraignment at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, and subsequent remand of the UK-based Nigerian blogger, Maureen Badejo.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Badejo was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force following petitions reportedly filed against her by senior Christian clerics.
SaharaReporters gathered that Badejo was arrested in Lagos on Friday by detectives attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Sources told SaharaReporters that she is currently being interrogated at the police Cybercrime Unit in Adekunle, Yaba area of the state.
According to information obtained by SaharaReporters, Badejo’s arrest followed petitions submitted to the police by the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, and the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr Daniel Olukoya.
While details of the allegations contained in the petitions remain unclear as of the time of filing this report, sources said the matter is connected to online publications and social media activities allegedly linked to the blogger.
In August 2023, SaharaReporters reported that Badejo had rejected Apostle Suleman’s offer to pay £500 per month toward the judgment sum of £19,601, which had been awarded against him by the Queen’s Bench Division of the UK High Court of Justice.
In March 2022, the Queen’s Bench Division of the UK High Court of Justice ordered Suleman to pay £19,601 as part of sanctions in a defamation suit he had filed against Badejo.
Badejo was subsequently summoned to appear before the court over allegations of defaming the Nigerian cleric.
SaharaReporters also reported how Nigerians in the diaspora raised legal fees to help Badejo defend herself in the case.
The host of GIOTV had appealed to her viewers, fans, and supporters for financial assistance to cover the legal costs.
In a ruling obtained by SaharaReporters, UK Judge His Honour Judge Lewis, under Claim No. QB-2022-000504 dated 10 March 2022, dismissed Suleman’s application. The court ordered him to pay Badejo the sum of £19,601.
In a statement released on Friday evening by its Media Team, CDHR, which accused the police of silencing critical voices, criticised the events that it said unfolded in Court 7 of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, presided over by Justice A. Aluko.
According to CDHR, Badejo was ordered to be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Kirikiri pending further proceedings.
CDHR noted that court proceedings began late in the afternoon, with the case called at about 2:15pm.
The group said that police prosecutors introduced 11 fresh amended charges against Badejo, effectively replacing earlier charges filed on February 11.
CDHR said Badejo, who was represented by her lead counsel, Yinka Owoeye, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
However, the prosecution, representing the Inspector General of Police, opposed her bail request, arguing that she posed a flight risk and had continued to make online comments about the matter.
CDHR criticised the prosecution’s stance, alleging that the police were attempting to criminalise the blogger’s online expressions.
“Let this be clear: the Nigerian Police is admitting in open court that it wishes to jail a citizen for what she writes on the internet. This is the hallmark of a dictatorship, not a democracy,” the group stated.
“The CDHR notes that the court, in a slight reprieve, refused the prosecution’s prayer for a restraining order on her online commentary, but the damage was done.”
The group added, “In a ruling that prioritises technical convenience over substantial justice, the learned judge refused to allow Ms. Badejo to enjoy the bail previously granted by a lower court.
“She was ordered remanded in the Correctional Centre until March 16th, 2026. It is a dark day when a citizen is deprived of her liberty simply because the prosecution wants to "upgrade" the venue of their harassment.”
CDHR further alleged that another police prosecutor, led by Augustine Nwabuchi, attempted to introduce a separate set of fresh charges during the same court session involving a different complainant and sought to have the defendant take an immediate plea.
Badejo’s lawyer, Owoeye, objected to the move, describing it as a violation of due process and an abuse of court procedures.
He argued that the defendant could not be confronted with new charges without prior service and adequate time to prepare her defence.
The court upheld the objection and ruled that proper legal procedures must be followed, directing that the new charges be served on the defendant ahead of time.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to March 30, 2026, for proper arraignment.
CDHR said the sequence of events reflected what it described as a pattern of intimidation and legal harassment designed to suppress dissenting voices in Nigeria.
“The CDHR states unequivocally: It is not the complainant, Apostle Johnson Sulaimon who is being bullied,” the group said.
“The bully here is the Nigerian State, wielding the heavy baton of the police and the courts to intimidate a single woman into silence.”
The group called on the Inspector General of Police to halt what it termed the weaponisation of the legal system against Nigerians.
It urged the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the case as a potential violation of fundamental human rights.
The group also appealed to Nigerians and civil society groups to support Badejo, insisting that exercising the right to free expression should not attract persecution.
SaharaReporters
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Badejo was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force following petitions reportedly filed against her by senior Christian clerics.
Comments
Post a Comment