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.

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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.