The Nigeria Police Force has rearrested Stanley Ugagbe, a journalist with Secret Reporters, and charged him alongside Fejiro Oliver, the outlet’s publisher and Editor-in-Chief over a series investigative reports.
The pair have been charged with six criminal offences by a Federal High Court in Abuja, with Ugagbe being remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre for about two months, adjourning the case to September 21, 2026. Fejiro Oliver, also known as Oghenedoro was listed in the charge sheet as being at large because he was outside Nigeria at the time.
The six-count charge includes allegations of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, cyberstalking through the publication of allegedly false information, harassment, criminal defamation, and publication of content deemed harmful to the reputation of the complainant.
According to Secret Reporters, the police invited Ugagbe to their office on July 13, 2026, under the pretext of returning the laptop and mobile phone that had been seized during his earlier detention on July 1. However, upon his arrival, he was reportedly rearrested and taken into custody.
Ugagbe was apprehended by security operatives on July 1, 2026, after being intercepted in Karu while returning from a training programme. He was reportedly taken to his residence in Jikwoyi, Abuja, where the security operatives seized his laptop, mobile phones, and other work equipment before detaining him. He was later located at the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) and released on administrative bail on July 6, 2026.
According to a charge sheet dated July 14, 2026, the charges are in connection with investigative reports that alleged corruption and misconduct by Emem N. Usoro, Deputy Governor for Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The prosecution indicated that the reports published by Secret Reporters concerning the Deputy Governor contained false information intended to harass, intimidate, and damage her reputation. The journalists have since denied the allegations.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is concerned about the continued use of criminal charges, including cyberstalking and criminal defamation, against journalists in Nigeria in connection with investigative reporting on matters of public interest.
While individuals who believe they have been defamed have the right to seek legal redress, criminal prosecution should not become a tool for suppressing investigative journalism or discouraging scrutiny of public officials.
The MFWA urges the Nigerian authorities to ensure that the prosecution of Stanley Ugagbe and Fejiro Oliver fully respects due process and fair trial guarantees. We also call for restraint in the application of cybercrime and criminal defamation laws against journalists.
