A United Kingdom-based Nigerian blogger, Maureen Badejo, on Tuesday regained her freedom from custody after she fulfilled her bail conditions, SaharaReporters has learnt.
Maureen Badejo was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force following petitions reportedly filed against her by senior Christian clerics.
Badejo was arrested in Lagos on February 6 by detectives attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
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.
A Lagos State Magistrate’s Court later granted Badejo bail in the sum of ₦10million, with one surety acceptable to the court, pending further proceedings. Her legal team, led by Yinka Owoeye and comprising four other lawyers, handled the matter.
Her arraignment was, however, marred by controversy. Sources told SaharaReporters that police allegedly misinformed her lawyers about the venue of her court appearance. While counsel were reportedly directed to the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Badejo was instead taken to the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, leaving members of her legal team at the wrong location.
Despite the confusion, the court proceeded with the arraignment and approved bail on the stated terms.
Badejo’s detention followed petitions reportedly filed by Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries and Daniel Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM).
She was earlier arrested in Lagos by detectives attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and interrogated at the police Cybercrime Unit in Adekunle, Yaba.
Although the specific charges have not been publicly detailed, sources indicate the matter relates to online publications and social media content allegedly linked to the blogger.
The dispute also has an international dimension. In March 2022, the Queen’s Bench Division of the UK High Court of Justice ordered Apostle Suleman to pay Badejo £19,601 in sanctions connected to a defamation suit he filed against her.
Badejo reportedly rejected a subsequent offer to settle the judgment in monthly instalments of £500. Supporters in the diaspora are said to have contributed toward her legal defence.
