UK-Based Blogger Maureen Badejo Arrested After Petitions From Olukoya, Apostle Suleman

UK-based Nigerian blogger, Maureen Badejo, has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force following petitions reportedly filed against her by prominent Nigerian Christian leaders. According to Ireporter Online, Badejo, who runs GIOTV, was taken into custody on Friday in Lagos by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and is currently being interrogated at the Cybercrime Unit in Adekunle, Yaba.

Sources revealed that the arrest was linked to complaints submitted by Apostle Johnson Suleman, General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, and Daniel Olukoya, General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM). While the specific allegations have not been made public, they are reportedly connected to Badejo’s online publications and social media posts targeting the clerics.

As of the time of reporting, the police had not released an official statement confirming the charges or the legal basis for her continued detention.

Badejo previously won a defamation suit against Apostle Suleman in the UK High Court of Justice (Queen’s Bench Division) in March 2022, in which the cleric was ordered to pay £19,601. Badejo rejected an offer by Suleman in August 2023 to settle the judgment in £500 monthly installments. Court records show that His Honour Judge Lewis dismissed Suleman’s application and upheld Badejo’s legal costs under Claim No. QB-2022-000504. Following the ruling, Nigerians in the diaspora reportedly contributed to a crowdfund to support her legal defense.

In a related matter, a former MFM pastor, Sunday Bawura Olowoyeye, filed a ₦1 billion lawsuit against Pastor Olukoya in December 2023, alleging unlawful detention after sharing his grievances with Badejo. Olowoyeye claimed he was detained for 16 days at the FCID Alagbon and accused the cleric of neglecting him and his family during a medical emergency.

Badejo has conducted interviews with multiple individuals who have accused both Suleman and Olukoya of misconduct. Many of these claims remain unaddressed publicly by the clerics.