Justice Prevails: Blogger Ijele Speaks to Be Arraigned in Lagos, Not Anambra, After Court Nullifies Transfer Warrant

 

After more than a year of legal tug-of-war and growing public outrage, the long-detained Nigerian social media commentator Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, better known by his online moniker Ijele Speaks , will now face trial in Lagos, as a court has nullified the controversial warrant obtained for his transfer to Anambra State.

This development marks a significant win for human rights advocates, who have consistently condemned the legal and institutional maneuvers that led to Ofoegbu’s prolonged detention. The nullification of the "production warrant" — initially issued to relocate the case to Awka — effectively dismantles what activists had described as an orchestrated attempt at “extraordinary rendition,” a move they argued posed serious threats to the blogger’s safety and rights.

Human rights advocate and presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore broke the news on Friday, celebrating the ruling as a hard-won milestone after months of unrelenting pressure on key justice system actors. According to Sowore, the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Chief Judge of Nigeria finally yielded to demands that Ofoegbu’s multiple cybercrime-related charges be consolidated for a single trial in Lagos.

“Following a year-long struggle to prevent the extraordinary rendition of blogger Chizorom Ofoegbu @IjeleSpeaks2 to potential harm in Awka, the Ministry of Justice and office of the Chief Judge of Nigeria have agreed to consolidate his cases for trial in Lagos,” Sowore stated.

This means that the next phase of the legal process will see the arraignment of the outspoken critic in Lagos courts — once a new judge is officially assigned to oversee the case.

Ofoegbu, a fervent voice against religious fraud and perceived exploitation by religious institutions, has gained online notoriety for his fierce criticism of high-profile pastors and political figures. His troubles began in March 2024 after posting a widely circulated exposé that accused Evangelist Ebuka Obi, leader of the Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, of orchestrating fake miracles to manipulate his congregation.

The post — in which Ofoegbu labeled the pastor a "fraud" and urged authorities to prosecute him — sparked an immediate backlash. The Nigeria Police invited the influencer to their Abuja office for questioning over alleged cyberstalking, criminal intimidation, threat to life, and cyberbullying.

However, what was initially framed as a routine investigative procedure soon morphed into a protracted ordeal. Despite voluntarily honoring the police invitation, Ofoegbu was not released. Instead, he was detained and eventually transferred to Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State, where he has now spent over a year behind bars without trial.

Multiple efforts by legal representatives and civil society groups to secure his bail were reportedly frustrated by procedural bottlenecks and what some described as “institutional complicity” in shielding powerful religious interests.

Critics of the arrest have since pointed to the involvement of Prophet Ebuka Obi and elements within the Nigeria Police Force as evidence of how state apparatuses can be manipulated to stifle dissent and punish voices critical of religious or political elites.

Sowore did not mince words in his criticism of the actors involved. “We continue to strongly condemn the actions of the Nigerian Police @PoliceNG and Prophet Ebuka Obi of Zion Ministry, who both colluded to violate Chizorom Ofoegbu's fundamental rights, resulting in an unjust year-long detention and permanent kidney damage,” he wrote.

Ofoegbu’s health condition has reportedly worsened during his incarceration, with sources close to the matter confirming irreversible kidney damage — further fueling calls for the discontinuation of the case.

The human rights campaigner also called on the Ministry of Justice to drop what he labeled as "frivolous charges" not only against Ofoegbu but also against other Nigerian citizens ensnared through what he termed the "weaponization" of the Cybercrime Act.

“The Ministry of Justice must discontinue these frivolous charges against Chizorom Ofoegbu and other Nigerian citizens that have been targeted and violated through the application of the Cybercrime Act immediately,” Sowore emphasized.

Public sentiment surrounding the case has grown steadily more intense, with hashtags like #UntilWeWin, #EgbetokunMustGo, and #RepealTheCyberCrimeAct gaining momentum across social media platforms. Many Nigerians see Ofoegbu’s ordeal as symbolic of the broader challenges facing free speech in the country, particularly when dissenting opinions challenge powerful religious or political institutions.

As the court's decision to consolidate the charges and hold proceedings in Lagos begins to take effect, all eyes now turn to the judiciary. Activists and observers alike are hoping that this next chapter in the saga of Ijele Speaks II will finally bring not just legal clarity — but justice.

For now, the tide appears to be turning in favor of a man who dared to speak truth to power — and paid for it with his freedom, health, and more than a year of his life.