Ofoegbu in the motion filed on Monday through his counsel, Marvin Omorogbe, also asked the court to direct his release from the prison or in the alternative, admit him to bail pending the conclusion of investigation by the Respondent (Inspector General of Police).
Nigerian social media influencer, Mr. Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, popularly known as Ijele Speaks II, has filed a motion on notice at the Magistrate court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, asking the court to set aside his remand at the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Ofoegbu in the motion filed on Monday through his counsel, Marvin Omorogbe, also asked the court to direct his release from the prison or in the alternative, admit him to bail pending the conclusion of investigation by the Respondent (Inspector General of Police).
In his viral post, Ofoegbu called the pastor a liar and tagged all his miracles as deceits, urging the police to arrest him for turning his religious institution into a business enterprise.
He wrote: “Dear @Lagos PoliceNG cc @BenHundeyin and our Ministry of Justice, have we abolished the 4(19) of our criminal code?
“For how long is this thief Ebuka Obi going to be allowed to fool people? Is he above the law? So any criminal can wake up one day and say whatever he likes and would be allowed to go free because ......? Pastor?
“And these are the people whose business premises serve as polling units. They'll help rig elections for politicians who in turn would be patronising them throughout their tenures. You dare not remit some of the public funds to them, else they'll tell their sheep that God has removed his glory from you, for that reason you must fail in the next election cycle.]
“Arrangee Master Ebuka Obi. Your scam is coming to an end.”
Subsequently, the police in Abuja invited Ijele to their station for an alleged case of criminal intimidation, threat to life, cyberstalking, and cyberbullying against the pastor.
SaharaReporters learnt that the police refused to release Ofoegbu after he honoured their invitation and was subsequently taken to Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State on Friday morning.
In a court document obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday, Ofoegbu asked the court for “An order setting aside the order of this Honourable Court made on the 21st day of March 2024, remanding the Applicant at the Nigeria Correctional Center, Kefi, Nasarawa State, and directing the release of the Applicant from the Nigerian Correctional Center, Keffi, Nasarawa State.
“In the alternative to the above, an order of this Honourable Court admitting the Applicant (Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu) to bail pending the conclusion of the Respondent's investigation.
“Such other orders as this Honorable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
The document further read, “Take further notice that the grounds upon which this application is brought are: the Respondent aude an exparte application before this Honourable Court seeking the remand of the Applicant pending investigation, and same was granted.
“The Applicant was consequently remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Center, Keffi, Nasarawa State. In seeking and obtaining the remand order, the Respondent misled this Honourable Court by suppressing and misrepresenting material facts.
“Amongst others, the Respondent suppressed the fact that the Applicant voluntarily honoured its invitation. The Applicant was not arrested prior to honouring the Respondent's invitation and he did not interfere with the Respondent's investigation.
“The applicant is constitutionally presumed innocent until proven guilty by virtue of Section 3645) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The Applicant is constitutionally entitled to his liberty and to the grant of bail, pending the conclusion of investigation and arraignment, if any
“The minimum threshold provided for in section 294(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act upon which a Court may establish a probable cause to grant a remand order was not met in the instant case before the remand order was issued.
“The alleged offense for which the Applicant was remanded is bailable. The Applicant is a responsible Nigerian who has never been involved in any crime. The Applicant will not evade trial.”