A Gwagwalada-based Citizen’s reporter and Popular human rights activist, Mr. Manasseh, has accused the incumbent Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Abu Jubril Giri, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chairmanship candidate for the forthcoming local government election, Hon. Ezekiel Zezelaga Mandate, of masterminding his illegal abduction and physical assault in broad daylight.
In a detailed public statement posted on his verified Facebook page on earlier this morning and titled “THE REVOLUTION WILL BE DOCUMENTED,” Mr. Manasseh narrated how he was allegedly waylaid, bundled into a private vehicle belonging to Hon. Zezelaga, driven to the private residence of the council chairman, and severely beaten before being handed over to the police.
According to the journalist, the ordeal stemmed from a series of investigative reports published by Chronicles reporters exposing alleged financial impropriety in the handling of billions of naira in federal allocations meant for Gwagwalada Area Council.
“Ezekiel’s anger did not come from law but from exposure—because Chronicle Reporters reported his corrupt dealings with the Chairman. And instead of clearing his name in a court of law, he chose violence, abduction, and brute force,” Mr. Manasseh wrote.
He further alleged that even after he was taken to the Gwagwalada Police Station, Hon. Zezelaga continued to assault him “boldly, openly, and shamelessly” in the presence of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), one Mr. Terso, who, rather than intervene, reportedly begged the politician to “take it easy.”
The journalist described the incident as “a travesty and show of shame of the Nigeria Police Force.”
Court Drama: Defendants’ Lawyer Fails to Serve Processes.
The matter came up for mention today before a Gwagwalada Magistrate’s Court in a criminal defamation suit filed by Hon. Ezekiel Zezelaga through the Commissioner of Police against Mr. Manasseh.
However, in what the journalist described as a humiliating anticlimax, counsel to the complainant informed the court that he had been unable to serve hearing notices on the defendant’s lawyer. The lawyer then argued that “there is no law that says the trial must begin today,” whereby he was so energetic at the last court sitting citing that they are ready and they have all evidence to serve and present. a submission Mr. Manasseh branded “laughable” coming from a side that had previously boasted of overwhelming evidence.
After listening to both parties, the presiding magistrate ordered all sides to “maintain the status quo” and refrain from any form of contact with one another, in apparent recognition of the journalist’s claims of ongoing intimidation and threats to his life.
The case was subsequently adjourned to January 27, 2026, for definite hearing.
“Truth Is Not Defamation” – Journalist Cites Constitutional, Judicial Precedents
In his statement, Mr. Manasseh insisted that his publications were in the public interest and protected by law, citing a long line of constitutional provisions and judicial authorities:
- Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees freedom of expression and press freedom;
- The Supreme Court decision in Arthur Nwankwo v. The State (1985), which held that public officers must tolerate even harsh criticism;
- The Court of Appeal ruling in Dairo v. Union Bank (2007), which affirmed truth as an absolute defence in defamation cases;
- The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ratified and domesticated by Nigeria), which protects citizens exposing corruption.
“It is not a crime to call a criminal a criminal, especially when their actions violate public trust,” he declared, adding: “A public officer who fears public scrutiny has no business holding public office.”
The journalist vowed to continue demanding a comprehensive breakdown of how federal allocations to Gwagwalada Area Council have been spent, insisting that “corruption will be exposed” and “intimidation will fail.”
His post, which has attracted hundreds of comments and shares within hours, carried the hashtag #savegwagz and ended with the rallying cry: “The story is still being written—and this time, it will be written by the people.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither Hon. Abu Jubril Giri nor Hon. Ezekiel Zezelaga Mandate had issued any public response to the allegations. Efforts to reach the Gwagwalada Divisional Police Officer and the IPO officer Terso for comments were unsuccessful.
The case has reignited conversations about press freedom, the safety of journalists, and the accountability of local government officials in the Federal Capital Territory as the council elections draw near.
The nation watches as Gwagwalada’s “revolution,” in the words of Mr. Manasseh, continues to unfold both on the streets and in the courtroom.