Blogger who accused Lagos cleric of fake miracles remanded in Keffi prison

A chief magistrate court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has fixed April 12 for ruling on a bail application filed by Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, the social media influencer popularly known as Ijele Speaks.

Ijele was arrested by the police after he accused Ebuka Obi, the lead founder of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, of performing fake miracles. 

Ijele claimed that Obi is a criminal and scammer who lives through dubious means.

In the post tagging the police, the influencer also accused the clergyman of being “a fraudster who performs fake miracles”.

The blogger has been in detention for over two weeks.

Arguing a bail application on Monday, Marvin Omorogbe, counsel to Ijele, prayed the court to set aside the remand order granted against his client.

He asked the court to “order his release from the Keffi correctional centre or, in the alternative, admit him to bail”.

Omorogbe alleged that the police suppressed facts before the court to secure a remand order.

He said the police also lied about filing a charge at the Abuja federal high court.

“For the fact that the Police came to court to lie on oath is enough reason to set aside the remand order. They misled the court into granting the remand order against the applicant,” the lawyer said.

Ijele’s counsel said the 14-day period for the applicant to be remanded has expired, adding that there is no application for the renewal of the remand order.

Opposing the bail application,  Obiora Ejiofor, the police lawyer, said there was no evidence placed before the court to warrant granting the applicant bail.

He also insisted that a four-count criminal charge against the applicant has been filed at the federal high court in Abuja.

“We are waiting for a date by the federal high court to arraign the applicant. The police is a very responsible institution of government,” Ejiofor said.

Responding on point of law, Omorogbe told the court that the exhibits attached to the counter affidavit by the police were forged.

“The purported wanted person notice was forged, that was why they made a photocopy of it to confuse the court,” he said.

“The court should not accord any value to the exhibits. The documents do not meet the minimum standard of the Evidence Act.”

He said the police did not exhibit any charge in all the processes filed before the court, saying there is no case against the applicant in the face of the law.

After listening to the submissions of all parties in the matter, Emmanuel Iyanna, the chief magistrate, adjourned till April 12 to rule on the application.

The applicant is to remain in Keffi correctional centre pending the ruling.