UK-Based Blogger Maureen Badejo Arrested in Lagos Following Petitions by Olukoya, Suleman
Maureen Badejo, a Nigerian blogger based in the United Kingdom, has been arrested in Lagos by the Nigeria Police Force following petitions reportedly filed against her by prominent Christian clerics.
Badejo was taken into custody on Friday by detectives attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). She is currently being questioned by officers at the police Cybercrime Unit in the Adekunle area of Yaba, Lagos.
The arrest is said to be linked to petitions submitted by Apostle Johnson Suleiman, General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, and Dr. Daniel Olukoya, General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM). Although the specific allegations have not been officially disclosed, the matter is believed to be connected to Badejo’s online publications and social media activities.
As of Friday evening, the police had yet to issue an official statement clarifying the allegations or the legal basis for her detention. Efforts to reach the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, for comments were unsuccessful.
Badejo has previously been involved in legal disputes with Apostle Suleiman. In March 2022, a UK court ordered Suleiman to pay £19,601 following a defamation-related case involving Badejo. Reports later indicated that Badejo rejected an offer by the cleric to contribute £500 monthly towards the judgment sum. During that period, Nigerians in the diaspora reportedly raised funds to support her legal defense.
In a related development, a former MFM pastor, Sunday Bawura Olowoyeye, filed a ₦1 billion lawsuit in December 2023 against Dr. Olukoya, alleging unlawful and oppressive detention. Olowoyeye claimed he was arrested and detained for 16 days at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department in Alagbon, Lagos, allegedly after he shared grievances about his treatment in the church with Badejo, who later publicized his account.
Badejo has, over time, interviewed several individuals who made serious allegations against the two clerics. These allegations have not been publicly addressed by the parties involved.