By our reporter
Social media commentator and activist, Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, popularly known as Ijele Speaks II, has finally regained his freedom after spending more than a year in detention. He was released on Friday from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos following the formal signing of a release warrant by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court.
Justice Osiagor had earlier granted Ofoegbu bail, expressing deep concern over his prolonged incarceration despite meeting all legal conditions. The judge criticized the consistent absence of federal prosecutors who failed to appear for multiple scheduled court proceedings, effectively stalling the case.
The release order came after the defence team formally applied for his discharge, having met all bail conditions set by the court. Ofoegbu had been granted bail as early as June 2024 by Justice A. Aluko of the same court. The bail conditions were later varied in July to make compliance easier, which the defendant fulfilled. Yet, he remained in custody for months afterward.
His lawyer, Yakubu Galadima, filed multiple petitions demanding his immediate release, describing the continued detention as both unlawful and a violation of his constitutional rights under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution. Galadima noted that despite full compliance with the court’s orders, Ofoegbu was still being held without a valid remand warrant, allegedly due to a separate charge reportedly pending before the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State.
Ofoegbu’s ordeal began in March 2024 when he was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force after publicly accusing popular evangelist Ebuka Obi, founder of the Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, of staging fake miracles. In viral online posts, Ofoegbu described the evangelist’s televised healing services as fraudulent and called for his arrest, alleging the religious platform was being exploited for financial gain.
Following these allegations, police authorities summoned Ofoegbu to Abuja over charges that included cyberstalking, criminal intimidation, threats to life, and cyberbullying. Upon honouring the invitation, he was arrested and transferred to the Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State before eventually being moved to Ikoyi.
Despite being granted bail months ago, Ofoegbu’s release was stalled by what his lawyers described as deliberate delays and judicial manipulation. The situation prompted public outrage from civil rights groups and online freedom advocates who argued that his detention was an attack on free speech and an abuse of legal process.
His legal team also argued that the initial remand was based on allegedly forged documents presented by the police. The subsequent transfer of the case to Lagos came after a separate court ruling nullified an arrest warrant that sought to move him to Anambra State.
Now released, Ofoegbu’s case has reignited public debate about freedom of expression, misuse of defamation and cybercrime laws, and the need for urgent judicial reforms to prevent similar abuses.
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