₦airaland Forum

otipoju:
If she had been providing proof all these years , she would not be where she is now.

It seems like you do not know these nasty scum of human beings.

Antoeni:
E Be Like Say Na Mountain of Fire Members Full Comments Section,

mignone:
Honestly, I've been wondering.
Everyone seems subjective in reasoning.
The woman may be wrong, but the approach to it is all wrong!

Lifestone:
A day of reckoning has come. Since she's so sure, she should just simply prove it in court. I know the OP as one of her mouth piece, I hope you will go to court to defend her.

mignone:
Is that why she should be remanded in a civil case?

professorPABX:
You must be one of the people being hired to do public relations whitewash of the matter between Maureen Badejo and the Church. Why I am very careful here is because I observed the case is now intricately between Federal Government and Maureen Badejo and not directly between the Church and Maureen Badejo. Everybody knows Nigeria. The key defendants that are at large are poor and helpless people that have no money and people in high places to defend them and SOWORE doesn't do human rights advocacy through internet.

As I said earlier few weeks ago when the case of G.O against her was being prosecuted, I am still standing on what I said. It is better for Church to use the power of God of Elijah as it was in the time of Elijah to know who is right instead of intimidation and suppression. I was at Redemption Camp yesterday when somebody told me there is a court case yesterday. The person asked me if all the allegations were true, I said I don't know because only the people who brought those issues and observations to Maureen Badejo can confirm. We all agreed the key witnesses are nobody and poor and helpless Nigerians whereas the Church have Professors of Law, Lawyers, serving and retired Judges, serving and retired Law Enforcement Agents , Governors, Senators and wealthy men. With these arrays of people the key witnesses are already suppressed emotionally and mentally and owould be afraid they can never get Justice.

Since Christ is the Head of the Church and God of Elijah is the God of the Church why not subject this accusations to the Judgement of the God of Elijah instead of intimidation.

Lifestone:
If she dies mysteriously, you guys will come here and say Pastors killed her. By the way, it's better that she's alive to provide the proof to those serious allegations so that those victims can get justice.
I'm as concerned in this case as any case where bloggers uses the cover of computer to destroy others image. Those who know what reputation means will never support what Maureen is doing.

Lifestone:
If she dies mysteriously, you guys will come here and say Pastors killed her. By the way, it's better that she's alive to provide the proof to those serious allegations so that those victims can get justice.
I'm as concerned in this case as any case where bloggers uses the cover of computer to destroy others image. Those who know what reputation means will never support what Maureen is doing.

US-Based Nigerian Influencer Funke Ashekun Alleges MFM Founder Influenced Remand Of Associate In Cyberbullying Case
March 6, 2026
NEWS

Nigerian social media influencer and YouTuber, Mrs. Funke Ashekun, has alleged that the order of immediate arrest on her and the revoked of her associate, Ayotunde Richard’s bail, in a Nigerian prison is linked to an ongoing legal dispute involving the founder of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Pastor Daniel Kolawole Olukoya.

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the immediate arrest of Funke Ashekun and revoked Richard’s bail for allegedly scandalising the court on social media, even as the underlying case remains pending.

The matter stems from a criminal defamation complaint filed by Dr. Olukoya against Richard.

Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, who is presiding over the case, made the ruling after police prosecutor Mr. Nosa Uhumwangho drew attention to a social media post by Ashekun.

The judge noted that Richard admitted in his affidavit that the post did not accurately reflect court proceedings and that Ashekun had tagged him in the story.

Richard is facing charges of cyberstalking, libel, and defamation, all linked to social media posts about Dr. Olukoya. He was initially remanded in prison pending a bail application hearing.

Speaking to SaharaReporters on Friday, Ashekun detailed the circumstances surrounding the order of her arrest and Richard’s latest detention, claiming it was connected to a cyberbullying case initiated by MFM lawyers.

She explained that the legal dispute began in 2024 when an MFM lawyer, Davidson Juwon, together with the church’s Social Media Monitoring Committee Head, Folashade Sanni, petitioned Richard over alleged cyberbullying. Richard was arrested and remanded in prison that year but was later granted bail.

According to Ashekun, the case underwent several court hearings and was eventually adjourned to later on the 29th of April 2026. She alleged that during a February 4, 2026, hearing, the presiding judge reportedly expressed disappointment in Olukoya through one of the petitioners, after which the judge asked that the court be put off record.

Ashekun claimed that the situation escalated after she published a post recounting what the judge had said during the off-record session.

The post partly reads; "THE JUDGE SENT A STRONG MESSAGE TO OLUKOYA IN COURT TODAY!...

"Folashade Sanni, tell Dr Olukoya that I am highly ashamed on his behalf and highly disappointed in him! I have personally prayed MfM prayers and you bringing your former Praise and Worship leader before me shows that I wasted my time praying all those prayers

"This is a clear sign that there is no power in MfM! Bible says if the enemy shall come like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall raise a standard against them. If MfM cannot raise a standard against this man, it means MfM has no spiritual standard

"You lack spiritual power to handle him, therefore you brought him to me physically so I can help you jail him because of gossip

"Federal high court is a place meant for very serious issues, not gossip

"N.B: The Judge thought Richard stole MfM money through Internet but later read the matter and found out it was all about gossip."

She alleged that the judge subsequently accused Richard of facilitating the publication because she had tagged him and six others in the post, ordering him to remain in custody until she issued a public apology. Ashekun said she has since complied with the apology.

She further alleged that Richard’s court hearing was abruptly fast-tracked to Wednesday, coinciding with a deposition scheduled in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States, where she is pursuing a separate lawsuit. Ashekun said she had been seeking court approval for her witnesses, who are outside the U.S., to testify remotely.

She added that the court eventually granted permission for her to depose the witnesses herself in the presence of the plaintiffs’ lawyers for cross-examination.

However, Ashekun alleged that later the same night in Nigeria, Richard’s lawyer received an expedited order requiring his appearance in court on Wednesday—the same time he was scheduled to testify remotely in her U.S. case.

She described Richard as a key witness in her legal battle and claimed that he had been imprisoned three times over disputes involving Olukoya and MFM.

Efforts to obtain comments from the leadership of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, as well as the individuals mentioned in Ashekun’s allegations, were unsuccessful at the time of filing.

SaharaReporters

professorPABX:
Your first paragraph is as useless as empty noises without results which shows something is missing. God, Prophets of old under the power of the God of the Spirit of Prophets reacts automatically. We can see the case of Moses where those who challenged him was judged, Elijah let fire down was there, a King that stretched his arm against a prophet, the arm became paralysed and several others.

In your case you are using intimidation and suppression to silence the voice of those who have no connection but resort to Social Media. When you suppress and intimidate a helpless person, it is like poisoning because the person doesn't have access to prescribed medication, no access to personal medical doctor, no access to good food and no freedom of movement and consultation. This is an indirect way of silencing the person when mysterious efforts failed.

I am against blackmailing but against the use of the name of God to use big men in the Church that have taken the Pastor as Man of God and father to fight an helpless and poor Nigerians to silence them systematically and psychologically.

Let God judge. If I be a man of God let fire fall. Suppression and intimidation to break down poor and helpless people is to silence them physically because fire refused to fall

Rights Group CDHR Accuses Nigerian Police Of Judicial Persecution Over Prison Remand Of UK-Based Blogger, Maureen Badejo
March 6, 2026
NEWS
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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

mignone:
Is that why she should be remanded in a civil case?

otipoju:
I really do not care about her well being.

Slandering someone with lies and destroying their reputation and livelihood is evil. That is all I know.

He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind.

Spainever:
It is time for her to provide evidences ,she is on her own

Civil Societies Demand Release Of UK-Based Blogger Maureen Badejo, Accuse Nigerian Govt Of ‘Judicial Persecution’

Civil Societies Demand Release Of UK-Based Blogger Maureen Badejo, Accuse Nigerian Govt Of ‘Judicial Persecution’
March 11, 2026
NEWS

A coalition of civil society organisations in Lagos State has demanded the immediate release of UK-based Nigerian blogger and activist, Maureen Omorinola Badejo, describing her ongoing detention as a case of judicial persecution aimed at silencing a critical voice.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, signed by the Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Lagos Branch, Wale Ojo, and the coalition’s media chairman, Ola Agboola Jnr., the groups expressed concern over Badejo’s continued detention at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.

This was after she was arraigned on March 6 on charges of conspiracy and defamation filed by the Nigeria Police Force.

The coalition said Badejo is expected to appear before Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, on March 16 for a ruling on her bail application.

The civil society groups alleged that the case represents a carefully orchestrated judicial ambush designed to silence a critical voice.

According to the statement, the charges stem from petitions submitted by clerics who had previously engaged Badejo in legal disputes abroad.

The coalition referenced a ruling by the High Court of Justice in March 2022 which ordered Johnson Suleman to pay Badejo £19,601 in a defamation case he had filed against her.

"What is unfolding before our very eyes is not the pursuit of justice but a carefully orchestrated judicial ambush designed to silence a critical voice. The pattern is dangerously familiar. We have witnessed this disturbing trend where the machinery of the state is weaponised to settle private scores, where powerful individuals deploy law enforcement agencies to intimidate and incarcerate those who dare to speak truth to power.

"The charges against Ms. Badejo stem from petitions filed by clerics, individuals who, notably, have engaged with her in legal battles across international jurisdictions. In March 2022, the UK High Court of Justice ordered Apostle Johnson Suleman to pay Ms. Badejo £19,601 in a defamation suit he had filed against her. This critical context, that a British court found merit in her position, has been conveniently swept aside by the Nigerian prosecution,” the statement said.

The groups warned that the use of criminal defamation charges against activists and critics represents a troubling pattern of using state institutions to settle private disputes.

They also cited the recent case involving Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, which they said raised concerns about alleged abuse of legal processes and heavy police deployment during attempts to effect an arrest.

According to the coalition, Badejo’s apprehension through Interpol and subsequent detention in Nigeria over what they described as a civil dispute raises serious questions about the use of law enforcement mechanisms.

"The Nigerian judiciary, which ought to be the last hope of the common man, is increasingly being deployed as a weapon of oppression. We have seen this play out repeatedly, most recently in the case of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, where ten truckloads of armed policemen were deployed to effect an unlawful arrest, and where civil society organisations condemned the "egregious abuse of court processes" that undermines public trust in our legal system.

"The same tactics are now being deployed against Ms. Badejo. A UK-based citizen was apprehended through Interpol, brought before a Nigerian court, and remanded in one of the country's most congested correctional centres, all over charges that are fundamentally civil in nature and which have already been litigated in foreign courts," the statement noted.

The organisations called for the immediate and unconditional release of the activist and the discontinuance of all charges against her.

They also urged Justice Aluko to ensure that the court acts independently and protects constitutional rights, including freedom of expression and fair hearing.

The coalition further warned that Badejo’s case reflects a broader threat to freedom of expression in Nigeria.

"As a coalition of civil society organisations committed to the defence of fundamental human rights and the integrity of our democratic institutions, we hereby demand: IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE of Ms. Maureen Badejo on March 16, 2026. Her continued detention serves no purpose other than to punish her for exercising her constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression.

"DISCONTINUANCE OF ALL CHARGES against Ms. Badejo. These charges represent a classic case of using criminal defamation laws to settle what are essentially civil disputes, a practice that has no place in a democratic society governed by the rule of law.

"AN END TO THE WEAPONISATION OF STATE INSTITUTIONS for private vendettas. The Nigeria Police Force and Interpol must not be reduced to tools in the hands of powerful individuals seeking to intimidate their critics.

"JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE AND INTEGRITY must be upheld. We call on Justice Akintayo Aluko to rise above any external pressures and demonstrate that our courts remain sanctuaries of justice, not arenas for persecution.

"ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE PERSECUTORS. We demand that those who have orchestrated this judicial ambush, who have abused court processes and deployed state security apparatus for personal interests, be held accountable for their actions."

The groups called on civil society organisations, the international community and the media to monitor the case closely and ensure that the judicial process is not manipulated to suppress dissent.

"To the Civil Society Community: We must close ranks. What happens to one of us happens to all of us. Let us flood the courts on March 16, 2026. Let our voices be heard in the corridors of power. Let the world know that Nigerians will not stand idly by while our freedoms are systematically eroded.

"To the International Community: We call on the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, human rights organisations across the globe, and all friends of democracy to pay urgent attention to the deteriorating state of judicial independence and freedom of expression in Nigeria . The world must see what is being done in the name of "justice."

"We reject the narrative that this is merely a "defamation matter." This is a POLITICAL PROSECUTION. This is an attempt to send a chilling message to every journalist, blogger, activist, and ordinary citizen who dares to speak truth to power.

"On Monday, March 16, as Ms. Badejo stands before Justice Akintayo Aluko, let it be known that the eyes of the nation, indeed, the eyes of the world, are fixed on that courtroom. History will record not only the ruling but the response of all who claim to stand for justice," the statement added.

SaharaReporters