Court remands journalist over alleged cybercrime involving CBN Deputy Governor

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Stanley Ugagbe at the Kuje Correctional Centre after he was arraigned on allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation involving the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in charge of Operations, Emem Usoro.

Justice Salim Ibrahim issued the remand order on Tuesday after Ugagbe pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge filed against him by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

Ugagbe is standing trial alongside Fejiro Oliver, also known as Oghenetega Oghenedoro, who is currently at large and is yet to be arrested by law enforcement authorities.

According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly published a series of defamatory reports on the online platform SecretReporters.com in 2026, accusing the CBN deputy governor of misconduct and making claims investigators described as false, malicious and capable of damaging her reputation.

One of the reports allegedly carried the headline: “Adulterous Woman: How CBN Deputy Governor Emem Usoro turned side chic, paraded herself as man’s wife, destroyed couple’s union.”

The prosecution alleged that the publication violated Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, arguing that the report was knowingly false and intentionally published to injure the reputation of the senior CBN official.

Court documents also alleged that the defendants published another report titled: “CBN Deputy Governor Emem Nana Usoro hides N1.4 Billion California Luxury Condo in Asset Declaration Scandal.”

According to the police, the publication falsely alleged that Usoro concealed ownership of a luxury property in the United States and was capable of causing public unrest by undermining confidence in public institutions.

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The defendants were further accused of publishing another article titled: “CBN Deputy Governor Emem Usoro linked to N3.6BN Los Angeles Property amidst questions over Asset Declaration Compliance.”

The prosecution alleged that the report was deliberately intended to harass, bully and intimidate the CBN deputy governor through the use of a computer network, contrary to the provisions of Nigeria’s amended Cybercrimes Act.

In addition to the cybercrime allegations, the defendants are facing charges under the Penal Code relating to the alleged defamatory publications concerning Usoro’s personal life and integrity.

When the case came up for arraignment, prosecution counsel K.P. Ebong informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the trial.

Following Ugagbe’s plea of not guilty, the prosecution requested the court to fix a date for trial and urged the judge to make appropriate orders for the case to proceed.

Defence counsel Adekunle Olanipekun informed the court that the defence had filed a bail application and was prepared to move the motion.

Justice Ibrahim, however, observed that the application had only recently been filed and had not yet been brought before the court.

The prosecution opposed the immediate hearing of the application, stating that it had only been served with the motion shortly before proceedings commenced and needed adequate time to file a response.

After listening to both parties, the judge adjourned the matter until September 24, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.

Pending the determination of the bail request, Justice Ibrahim ordered that Ugagbe be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The court also directed the prosecution to ensure that all its witnesses are available on the next adjourned date to facilitate a speedy trial.

The case is among the latest high-profile prosecutions under Nigeria’s amended Cybercrimes Act, which prescribes penalties for cyberstalking, the dissemination of false information through digital platforms and other online offences.

Legal analysts say the proceedings could become an important test of the balance between protecting reputations and safeguarding freedom of expression under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws.

Meanwhile, security agencies are continuing efforts to apprehend the second defendant, Fejiro Oliver, who remains at large, so both defendants can stand trial before the Federal High Court.

Court remands journalist over alleged cybercrime involving CBN Deputy Governor

I am more knowledgeable than most graduates — MC Oluomo

National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has said that although he did not receive formal education, the knowledge and life experience he has acquired over the years have given him greater understanding than many university graduates.

MC Oluomo made the remarks on Sunday during the 50th birthday celebration of Islamic singer Hafsat Adegoke and the unveiling of her new album in Alausa, Lagos. The event attracted several prominent guests, including Fuji music star Saheed Osupa, politicians, transport union members and other dignitaries.

Reflecting on his humble beginnings, the transport union leader narrated how he started working as a bus conductor as a teenager, saying the experience taught him discipline, responsibility and financial independence at an early age.

According to him, he began earning money at the age of 13, worked daily as a conductor and was able to support his mother financially while still enjoying simple pleasures such as going to the cinema with friends.

MC Oluomo said his emergence as President of the NURTW was not accidental but the result of years of dedication, commitment and learning every aspect of the transport business from the grassroots.

“I’ve been spending money since I was 13 years old. I worked as a conductor from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. I would go to Danjuma Cinema to watch Indian movies with my own money, and I still took money home for my mother to buy food.

“I didn’t enter the NURTW as a bastard. I learnt the work, mastered it and got to where I am today. I didn’t go to school, but the knowledge and understanding I have in my head are greater than those held by people with degrees,” he said.

The NURTW president stressed that while he missed out on formal education, he never underestimated its importance. Instead, he said his personal experience motivated him to ensure that his children received quality education and opportunities that were unavailable to him during his childhood.

According to MC Oluomo, his investment in education has paid off, as his children have built successful professional careers abroad.

“I always tell people that if I am uneducated, glory be to God. Today, my children are a doctor, a lawyer and an engineer, and they are in America. May God not allow our children to die young,” he said.

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Speaking further, MC Oluomo reminisced about his long-standing relationship with Fuji musician Saheed Osupa, revealing that they had known each other since childhood.

He recalled visiting the home of Osupa’s late mother while growing up and said the Fuji singer was familiar with the difficult circumstances that shaped his early life before he became one of Nigeria’s most influential transport union leaders.

The union leader also used the occasion to speak about family values and parental responsibility, criticising fathers who neglect the welfare of their wives and children.

According to him, many Nigerian women have become the primary providers for their families because some husbands have failed to meet their responsibilities.

He described fathers who abandon their children as failing in one of their most important responsibilities, urging men to prioritise the welfare, education and future of their families.

MC Oluomo also criticised men who, according to him, devote more attention and resources to children outside their marriages while neglecting their immediate families. He warned that such actions often have long-term consequences for both parents and children.

His remarks have since generated widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians expressing differing opinions on the relationship between formal education, practical knowledge and life experience. While some argued that experience can be as valuable as academic qualifications in leadership and entrepreneurship, others maintained that formal education and practical skills complement each other and should not be viewed as competing paths to success.

The comments have also reignited broader conversations about the role of education, vocational skills and experience in personal development and leadership in Nigeria.

I am more knowledgeable than most graduates — MC Oluomo

“Lust” Made Me Do It – Adamawa Father Pleads Guilty to Impregnating Daughter

In a deeply disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community, an Upper Area Court in Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State has ordered the remand of a man who admitted to impregnating his own biological daughter. The defendant, Jediel Sylvester, pleaded guilty to charges of incest, criminal intimidation, and assault, attributing his actions to “lust” in open court. Presiding Judge, Hon. Kabiru Musa, ordered the defendant’s detention in a correctional facility pending further proceedings on Monday, following Sylvester’s unreserved guilty plea to the three-count charge brought against him under the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State.

The case, marked UACG/NO1/CR/FI/113/26, was initiated through a direct criminal complaint filed by the victim and her uncle, Mohammed Audi, under Section 111 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Adamawa State, 2018. The complainants were represented by their counsel, Abdulrahman Njidda. According to the testimony of Mohammed Audi, who is the brother of the victim’s mother, Sylvester is legally married to his sister and had been living with the family when the alleged abuse began. Audi told the court that Sylvester had repeatedly sexually abused his daughter over a period of time, culminating in a visible pregnancy that could no longer be hidden.

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The court heard harrowing testimony from the young victim, who revealed that her father routinely subjected her to physical beatings and psychological intimidation before forcing himself on her. She stated that he regularly threatened her to ensure her compliance and silence, creating an atmosphere of fear that made it difficult for her to speak out earlier. The turning point in the case came when Sylvester himself took the girl to a medical practitioner after she complained of missing her menstrual period. A clinical examination confirmed she was about three months pregnant, corroborating the allegations of sexual abuse and leaving no doubt about the nature of the offence committed.

In a bid to evade justice, the prosecution alleged that Sylvester pressured his daughter to accuse another man of being responsible for the pregnancy. However, the victim reportedly insisted that no other person had ever had sexual intercourse with her, firmly identifying her father as the sole perpetrator and refusing to be coerced into making a false accusation. Further revelations emerged that Sylvester allegedly attempted to procure an illegal abortion for his daughter in a desperate attempt to destroy the evidence of his crime. However, medical practitioners advised against the procedure on grounds that the pregnancy had advanced to three months, making termination medically unsafe and potentially life-threatening for the young girl. The victim herself reportedly rejected the suggestion, describing it as dangerous and morally wrong, and chose instead to let the truth come to light.

The complainants maintained that the defendant’s conduct constitutes offences of incest, criminal intimidation, and assault, contrary to Sections 367, 382, and 242 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State. When the charges were read and interpreted to him in open court, Sylvester pleaded guilty without any reservation, and in a shocking statement, he attributed his despicable actions to “lust” — a remark that drew widespread condemnation from court observers and legal practitioners present at the proceedings.

Following his admission, Presiding Judge Kabiru Musa ordered the immediate remand of the defendant in a correctional facility, where he will remain while the case is being concluded. The case has been adjourned for further proceedings, with legal experts predicting a stringent sentence given the gravity of the offence and the explicit guilty plea entered by the defendant. The case has also reignited public discourse on the rising cases of sexual violence and incest in Nigeria, with many calling for stricter enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, which criminalizes sexual relations with close relatives and provides for severe penalties. As the community of Ganye grapples with the horror of this incident, many hope that the court will deliver justice that serves as a strong deterrent to others who might contemplate similar acts of depravity against vulnerable members of their own families.

“Lust” Made Me Do It – Adamawa Father Pleads Guilty to Impregnating Daughter