₦airaland Forum

Influencer ‘Ijele Speaks’ Finally Released From Ikoyi Prison After Over A Year In Custody Amid Defamation Charges By Evangelist Ebuka Obi

Social media influencer Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, popularly known as Ijele Speaks II, has been released from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos.

His release on Friday followed the signing of a release warrant by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos, in accordance with the bail earlier granted to him.

On Thursday, SaharaReporters had reported that the court again granted Ofoegbu bail in Charge No: FHC/L/321/2024—Inspector General of Police v. Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu—under the same conditions as his previous bail.

Justice Osiagor, expressing concern over Ofoegbu’s prolonged detention despite meeting his bail conditions, noted that federal prosecutors had repeatedly failed to appear for his arraignment.

In the absence of a valid court order to continue holding him, the judge directed the defence team to request his release from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre formally.

Ofoegbu had been detained for over a year.

A Lagos-based lawyer, Yakubu Galadima, Esq., had submitted a formal petition to the Comptroller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos Command, demanding the immediate release of Ofoegbu, who had been in custody since March 2024.

In the petition addressed to the Lagos Command headquarters in Alagbon, Galadima decried the continued detention of Ofoegbu despite his full compliance with bail conditions set by the Federal High Court.

He noted that on June 14, 2024, the Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice A. Aluko, granted bail to Ofoegbu in Charge No: FHC/L/321/2024 – Inspector General of Police v. Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu.

The court later varied the bail conditions on July 19, 2024, and the defendant had since perfected all requirements.

Galadima expressed shock that Ofoegbu remained detained at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre despite meeting all legal conditions.

He disclosed that inquiries suggested the detention might be connected to a separate charge allegedly pending before the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State.

Describing the continued detention as unlawful, Galadima argued that holding Ofoegbu without a valid remand order violated his constitutional rights under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He also labelled it a flagrant disobedience of valid and subsisting orders of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Ofoegbu was initially remanded at Keffi Correctional Centre in 2024 over allegations including cyberstalking, criminal intimidation, and threats to life, particularly involving Evangelist Ebuka Obi.

His legal team argued that the police misled the court into granting the remand order and that the documents used were allegedly forged.

Despite being granted bail by the Federal High Court in Lagos in June 2024—and even after meeting all bail conditions—Ofoegbu remained in custody.

His continued detention was later linked to a separate charge pending before the Federal High Court in Awka. His lawyers subsequently filed petitions and motions demanding his release, citing violations of his constitutional rights.

The transfer of Ofoegbu’s case to Lagos followed a legal victory: a court nullified an arrest warrant to move him to Anambra State.

Ofoegbu was taken into custody by the Nigeria Police Force in March 2024 after he publicly accused Obi, founder of the Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, of orchestrating fake miracles.

In a viral post, Ofoegbu described the pastor as a fraud and dismissed his televised miracles as staged performances. He also called for Obi’s arrest, alleging that he had commercialised his religious platform.

In response, police authorities in Abuja summoned Ofoegbu over allegations of criminal intimidation, threat to life, cyberstalking, and cyberbullying.

However, after honouring the police invitation, he was detained and later transferred to the Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State.

Ofoegbu’s prolonged detention has drawn criticism from civil rights groups and activists, who view the case as a troubling attack on free speech and have continued to demand his immediate release.

He also called for Obi’s arrest, alleging that he had commercialised his religious platform.

seunmsg:
Ijelespeaks is a patriotic Nigerian who speaks truth irrespective of whose ox is gored. He saw the evil that Ipob,ESN/UGM represented very early and spoke up against it. Looking back now, he was very right about those issues he spoke against.

Again, Ebuka Obi who got him locked up is an Ibo man. So, stop trying to link his legal predicament to Yoruba people. Even at that, it was still Yoruba lawyers and activists that fought till he was released.

VeryWickedMan:
So why did you hide the comment?
Are you afraid on his behalf for looking bad with his "lie"?

Maxymilliano:
Be careful what you wish for others, 'cause it might turn around on you

seunmsg:
I’m glad Ijelespeaks is finally out of prison. It’s been over a year of an unfortunate and unnecessary detention. I hope he comes back stronger and better to both Nairaland and Twitter, the two platforms that have him fame and popularity.

Christistruth00:
Glory Glory Hallelujah!!!!!!
Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!
Hallelujah!!!!

helinues:
Wow wow. If the news is true, I am really happy for him . Finally

https://www.nairaland.com/8226309/ijele-already-forgotten

seunmsg:
I’m glad Ijelespeaks is finally out of prison. It’s been over a year of an unfortunate and unnecessary detention. I hope he comes back stronger and better to both Nairaland and Twitter, the two platforms that have him fame and popularity.