A coalition of civil society groups in Lagos State on Monday staged a protest at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, demanding the release of UK-based Nigerian blogger and journalist, Maureen Badejo. The coalition includes the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Citizens Rights Advocacy Group, Access to Advocacy and Rights of the People, Advocates in Defence of Human Rights and Culture, and the Health and Human Rights Initiative.
Over 100 protesters were seen within the court premises wearing white T-shirts with inscriptions such as “Free Maureen Badejo Now,” “Justice Must Prevail,” and “Silencing the Truth: Pastors Are Not God.” Their demonstration coincided with the court granting Badejo bail.
Badejo’s counsel, Dr. Yinka Owoeye, disclosed that the court set her bail at N50 million, with two sureties, alongside other conditions to be fulfilled before her release. The lawyer expressed satisfaction that the court reversed its earlier decision and granted bail.
Badejo had been remanded in Kirikiri Prison following her arrest by the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi, in February over alleged defamation. She was arraigned on March 6 before Justice Akintayo Aluko on charges of conspiracy and defamation under the Criminal Code Act and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. Although she pleaded not guilty, the prosecution argued she was a flight risk, prompting the remand until the bail ruling.
Prosecutor Morufu Animashaun alleged that since November 2021, Badejo and others now at large conspired to publish defamatory statements on her YouTube and Facebook platforms against Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries and Dickson Osagie. She was accused of making false claims of sexual misconduct, unlawful possession of firearms, and portraying Suleman as a cultist, rapist, and assassin, while also allegedly placing both individuals in fear of harm.
The coalition maintains that the charges are baseless, describing Badejo’s detention as unlawful and a violation of her fundamental rights under Nigerian law, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Spokesperson Ola Agboola emphasized that pre-trial custody should not replace the presumption of innocence and that all charges against her should be dropped.
