Lagos, Nigeria – A Lagos-based journalist has accused the Nigeria Police Force of unlawful detention, harassment, and human rights violations after she was allegedly held in a police cell in Abuja for three days. The detention followed her publication of a court injunction in an ongoing land dispute.
Azuka Ogujiuba, publisher of Media Room Hub and a former ThisDay journalist, told reporters in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday that officers detained her without presenting a warrant. She added that she was pressured into signing an apology letter against her will.
“They seized my phone, assaulted me, and handled me roughly. The way I was being followed with a gun, you would think I was a terrorist,” Ogujiuba recounted, describing her ordeal.
Disputed Court Report
Her troubles began after she published details of a court injunction involving a real estate case between Kennedy Okonkwo’s company, Capital Gardens Limited, and Adewale “Biggie” Oladapo’s Oretol Nigeria Limited.
“Mr. Okonkwo had filed a suit against Mr. Oladapo’s Oretol Nigeria Limited at the Lagos High Court over alleged breach of contract on land located at Hampton Island, Osapa, Lekki,” Ogujiuba explained.
“All I did was report the injunction restraining Mr. Oladapo and his firm from interfering with about four hectares of land until the case is resolved, just as other media outlets also reported.”
Despite the wider media coverage, she maintains that her own platform was deliberately singled out for reprisals.
Claims of Targeted Harassment
According to Ogujiuba, her ordeal started on August 6 when officers from the Asokoro Police Division in Abuja invited her for questioning. She honored the invitation with her lawyer but was “whisked away like a criminal” without a warrant after being trailed for days.
Although she was initially granted bail and told to return two weeks later, Ogujiuba said she was later ambushed by plainclothes officers at a work function in Abuja.
“I was attending a scheduled interview when the officer kept calling, saying the petitioner wanted to see me. I told him I was on bail and would come after work,” she recalled.
“But as we left the venue, we saw men outside causing a scene. Since they were not in uniform, we thought they were kidnappers.”
Alleged Intimidation and Forced Apology
During her detention, she claimed she was deprived of proper meals and subjected to intimidation. She said officers compelled her to sign an apology letter, which was later leaked online to undermine her reporting.
“They dictated what I should write, and one officer even insisted I add that the letter was not written under duress. But what choice did I have when a gun was pointed at me inside a police cell?” she stated.
Ogujiuba further alleged that her home address was disclosed to the petitioner and his lawyer, putting her safety at risk.
Questions Over Police Authority
The journalist pointed out that Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun had on several occasions warned officers against meddling in civil disputes. She stressed that her case showed a clear abuse of police powers.
“The IGP has repeatedly said the police have no role in purely commercial disputes unless there is a criminal angle. Even then, such investigations must be supervised by state commissioners,” she argued.
Press Freedom Concerns
The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria condemned the incident, warning that harassment of journalists undermines press freedom and erodes public trust in law enforcement agencies.
Police Response
Efforts to reach the key parties produced mixed results. Calls to Adewale Oladapo went unanswered, and he did not respond to messages.
Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin also failed to respond to inquiries, while Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, acknowledged the complaint and promised to contact the Asokoro Division.
“I will call the DPO of Asokoro Division immediately and get back to you,” Adeh said, though no further update has been provided.
The case once again raises questions about police overreach in civil disputes and the deployment of state security resources for commercial battles.
Attempts to obtain comments from Kennedy Okonkwo and his legal representatives were also unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
For more updates, follow Chronicles Reporters on WhatsApp:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0J