News
Adewale Oladapo Linked to Journalist Arrest in Abuja
Adewale Oladapo journalist arrest case sparks outrage as veteran reporter Azuka Ogujiuba is detained over land dispute reporting and court ruling coverage
Adewale Oladapo journalist arrest controversy has sparked fresh outrage over press freedom in Nigeria following the detention of Azuka Ogujiuba, a respected journalist and publisher of Media Room Hub, by the Nigerian Police Force.
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Ogujiuba was arrested on 8 August 2025 in Abuja after being tracked for days by officers allegedly acting on the orders of businessman Adewale Oladapo, popularly known as Biggie.
Her arrest reportedly followed a petition accusing her of cyberbullying and defamation, but media and rights groups argue the real reason was her outlet’s publication of a court ruling unfavourable to Oladapo in a multi-billion-naira land dispute.
The veteran journalist, who previously worked with ThisDay, said she was held at the Asokoro Police Division for three days without a warrant, maltreated by officers, and forced to sign an apology under duress.
“I honoured the invitation with my lawyer, yet I was arrested like a criminal,” she said.
According to Ogujiuba, officers Moses Jolugbo, Ifeoma Ogoli, and Josephine Omotere acted outside the boundaries of the law by detaining her unlawfully and releasing her personal details to Oladapo’s legal team, Muiz Banire Chambers.
The dispute behind the saga involves Capital Gardens Ltd, owned by prominent real estate developer Dr Kennedy Okonkwo, who filed a petition against Oladapo and his firm, Oretol Nigeria Ltd, over alleged fraudulent land transactions worth billions of naira.
A Lagos High Court granted an injunction restraining Oladapo from interfering with four hectares of disputed land at Hampton Island, Lekki, pending the outcome of the case.
Despite police invitations, Oladapo allegedly failed to appear, claiming to be out of the country—even as he was reportedly seen at social events in Abuja.
While Ogujiuba complied with the law by reporting a valid court ruling, she said she was used as a scapegoat to intimidate the media.
“If anything happens to me or my family, the public should hold Moses Jolugbo, Ifeoma Ogoli, Josephine Omotere, and Adewale Oladapo responsible,” she warned.
She further revealed she was forced to sign a statement denying that the apology was made under pressure—a claim that raises questions about police overreach and the misuse of state institutions for personal vendettas.
Notably, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun had previously directed officers to refrain from meddling in civil or commercial disputes, deepening concerns about the legality of Ogujiuba’s detention.
Human rights advocates, including Kehinde, have rallied behind Ogujiuba, arguing that her arrest for reporting on a court order constitutes a blatant attack on journalism.
“Obeying a court ruling is not cyberbullying. This is abuse of power,” Kehinde stated.
The case has drawn condemnation from international bodies, including the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, which warned that intimidation of journalists erodes public trust and threatens Nigeria’s democratic fabric.
Also read: Obasa Applauds Journalists Honoured for Democracy Contributions
As legal proceedings over the disputed land continue, the Adewale Oladapo journalist arrest saga has become a flashpoint in the broader conversation around press freedom, police accountability, and systemic reform in Nigeria’s justice system.
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There was a heavy outburst of emotions on Sunday at the Synod of the Diocese of Nsukka Anglican Communion when the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Chijioke Ugwu, asked the gathering to pray for the souls of people who died after the Enugu State Government demolished Ogige Market in Nsukka.
Ugwu, who represented the party’s governorship candidate, Uche Nnaji, appealed for prayers for the peaceful repose of those who died and for strength for the survivors.
The market demolition, carried out without compensation to the former occupants, remains a sore point in the relationship between Governor Peter Mbah and the Nsukka cultural zone. Anger has persisted, especially after a motor park and a petrol station were built in its place.
It is claimed that more than 72 former shop owners in the demolished market have died as a result of the hardship and frustrations they faced after losing their sources of livelihood. The claim reflects the deep sense of loss still felt in the community years after the demolition.
Ugwu also appealed to the government to improve the quality of its projects for the future safety of children.
“The Smart schools they are building are collapsing every day because of poor-quality work. The roads are terrible. Nsukka during the rainy season is a terrible sight, and we cannot continue like this,” he said.
He further called on the church to pray for a re-examination of the cost of governance in the state, noting that ₦50 billion was budgeted to rehabilitate the Presidential Hotel while work was still ongoing.
The Synod was also attended by the Enugu State Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, who called for a debate among political aspirants on the quality of the Mbah administration and sought the people’s support.
Other political leaders present included Chidi Mark Obeta, a member of the House of Representatives, and the deputy governorship candidate of the NDC, Frank Okenwa Omeje.
Uche Nnaji later donated ₦2 million to the Synod and pledged that his government, if elected, would invest in improving the platform and create a liaison office for smooth engagement, with plans to make the Synod a more robust forum for discussions on the welfare of the poor and vulnerable.
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