A Lagos court on Tuesday ordered the immediate remand of a man identified as Kayode Samuel Jolaoso after he was caught secretly recording UK-based Nigerian blogger Maureen Badejo during court proceedings.
Jolaoso, who was present in court allegedly on behalf of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), was sentenced to 10 days at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for contempt of court.
Earlier in the day, a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court granted Badejo bail in the sum of ₦10 million, with a surety acceptable to the court, following her recent detention by the Nigerian police over petitions reportedly filed by Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries and Pastor Daniel Olukoya of MFM.
Badejo’s legal team, led by Yinka Owoeye and comprising four other lawyers, was present during the proceedings.
According to eyewitness accounts, Jolaoso had been a visible figure around the case in recent days and was reportedly seen outside a police station a day earlier, raising questions about his role. When challenged at the time, a female police officer reportedly claimed he was a police officer, a statement that further heightened suspicion among observers.
During Tuesday’s court session, Jolaoso was seen filming Badejo inside the courtroom for about 20 minutes, an act prohibited under court rules.
His conduct attracted the attention of other individuals in the courtroom, leading to a confrontation that was noticed by the presiding magistrate.
When questioned by the court, Jolaoso denied recording anything. The magistrate subsequently ordered that his mobile phone be produced for inspection and asked if anyone present had sufficient technical knowledge to examine the device. A member of Badejo’s family reportedly volunteered.
During the inspection, a 20‑minute video recording was found in the phone’s ‘recently deleted’ folder, showing it had been erased shortly beforehand. The discovery directly contradicted Jolaoso’s denial.
The court immediately found him guilty of contempt and ordered his remand at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for 10 days, directing that he be brought back to court upon completion of the term.
Sources in court further disclosed that while the phone was being examined, repeated calls were received on the device from a person described as a pastor, allegedly attempting to get updates, unaware that Jolaoso was already being taken into custody.
Prior to his remand, Jolaoso, a loyalist of Pastor Olukoya, had accused activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore of orchestrating what he described as a “fabricated media narrative” to obstruct justice and discredit investigations involving Badejo.
He claimed that reports portraying Badejo as a victim of persecution were misleading and deliberately ignored what he described as the substantive issues before law enforcement agencies.
Jolaoso also alleged that Badejo is facing 13 separate petitions from individuals and organisations who claim they suffered harm from her actions, insisting that the case did not arise from a single complaint.
“Maureen Badejo is not subject to a single questionable complaint. She is facing thirteen (13) distinct and serious petitions from individuals and entities who allege significant harm caused by her actions,” he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday morning. “These petitioners have one unified and lawful demand: for their cases to be heard and justice sought in a competent court of law.”
He dismissed reports suggesting that negotiations or specific police demands were conditions for Badejo’s release, maintaining that issues of bail and procedure are strictly within the discretion of the courts.
He further accused Sowore of running a campaign aimed at distracting the public from the allegations, using media reports and social media to pressure authorities into abandoning the case.
Jolaoso also noted that Badejo is represented by a team of lawyers, including UK-based counsel, countering claims that the process is unfair or one-sided.
“Omoyele Sowore is not a defender of rights in this instance. He is acting as a blackmailer who fights not with evidence in court, but with misleading press releases designed to smear the names of petitioners and investigators, and to pressure the system into dropping serious charges. His aim is to divert public attention away from the 13 voices seeking justice and onto a manufactured drama,” he said.
“This is not about persecution; it is about multiple allegations of harm that have formally been brought before the authorities. The petitioners deserve their day in court,” he added.
