UK-based Nigerian blogger, Maureen Badejo, has been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force following petitions reportedly filed against her by top Nigerian Christian clerics.
Badejo, who runs GIOTV, was taken into custody on Friday in Lagos by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and is currently being interrogated at the Cybercrime Unit in Adekunle, Yaba.
Sources told Sahara Reporters that the arrest was prompted by complaints submitted by the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman and the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Daniel Olukoya.
Although the full details of the allegations remain unclear, sources say they are connected to Badejo’s online publications and social media posts, which reportedly targeted the clerics.
As of press time, the police had not issued an official statement detailing the charges or confirming the legal basis for her continued detention.
In March 2022, the UK High Court of Justice (Queen’s Bench Division) ordered Apostle Suleman to pay £19,601 to Badejo in a defamation suit he had filed against her.
However, in August 2023, Badejo rejected an offer by Suleman to settle the judgment sum in £500 monthly instalments.
According to court records, UK Judge His Honour Judge Lewis, under Claim No. QB-2022-000504, dismissed Suleman’s application and upheld Badejo’s legal costs.
Following the judgment, Nigerians in the diaspora reportedly crowdfunded legal fees to assist Badejo in defending herself.
In December 2023, SaharaReporters detailed how Sunday Bawura Olowoyeye, a former MFM pastor, filed a ₦1 billion lawsuit against Pastor Olukoya for alleged unlawful detention.
Olowoyeye, who joined MFM in 1993, claimed he was detained at FCID Alagbon for 16 days after airing his grievances to Badejo, who later published his story online.
“They neglected me and my family when my wife was critically ill,” Olowoyeye said, alleging that his arrest came after he shared his ordeal with the blogger.
Badejo has conducted interviews with several individuals who have levelled allegations against both Suleman and Olukoya. Many of the claims have not been publicly addressed or refuted by the clerics.
FOLLOW US ON:
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
PINTEREST
TIKTOK
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
TUMBLR
INSTAGRAM
