A Lagos State Court on Tuesday granted bail to UK-based Nigerian blogger, Maureen Badejo, who was recently detained by the police following petitions filed by prominent pastors Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries and Pastor Daniel Olukoya of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM).
Badejo was granted bail for ₦10 million, with a surety acceptable to the court, pending further proceedings.
Her legal team, led by Yinka Owoeye and four other lawyers, supervised the proceedings.
The arraignment, however, was marred by confusion after the police allegedly misled Badejo’s lawyers about the court venue.
Sources said the lawyers were told she would appear at a Magistrate Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, but she was instead taken to the Igbosere High Court, leaving her legal team stranded.
“How do you give lawyers the wrong court to go to?” a source asked.
Read also:
- Court threatens to revoke Maina’s bail over attempts to stall trial
- Ex-Enugu lawmaker reacts to £420m court judgement against Britain
- EFCC witness tells court how ₦10.2bn Kogi funds were used to buy Abuja properties
“They left the police station believing she was being taken to Ikoyi, but she was diverted to Igbosere, seemingly to ensure the defence was not fully present.”
Despite the mix-up, Badejo was arraigned and granted bail, with the court directing that she meets the ₦10 million bond and provide a surety before she can be released.
Badejo’s legal troubles reportedly stem from a long-running dispute with Apostle Suleman, whom she had criticised repeatedly on her YouTube channel.
She was arrested by detectives attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Lagos and was being interrogated at the police Cybercrime Unit in Adekunle, Yaba, Lagos, at the time of her arraignment.
The police have yet to release an official statement clarifying the charges filed against her.
