Court Remands Journalist Stanley Ugagbe Over Cyberstalking Charges

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered journalist Stanley Ugagbe to be remanded at the Kuje correctional centre while his bail request awaits hearing in a cyberstalking case filed by the police.

The case is a fresh legal development involving Ugagbe, who had earlier been reported missing and later released from police custody after media-rights intervention. This new proceeding concerns charges of conspiracy and cyberstalking linked to reports about Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor Emem Usoro.

Premium Times reported that the court gave the remand order on Tuesday after the judge held that Ugagbe’s bail application was not yet ready for hearing. His lawyer, Pauline Olorunyomi, pushed for the application to be heard, but the prosecution said it needed time to respond.

The ICIR and FIJ also reported the remand, with both outlets saying the journalist was sent to Kuje pending further proceedings. The reports said the bail hearing was pushed toward September, although the defence could still approach a vacation judge if the regular court schedule is affected by the court vacation.

The police charged Ugagbe alongside Tega Oghenedoro, also known as Fejiro Oliver, who was described in the reports as being at large. The allegations remain before the court, and Ugagbe has not been convicted of any offence.

The remand adds another layer to concerns around media freedom and criminal complaints against journalists, especially where reporting on public officials becomes the subject of police prosecution.

Sources: Premium Times, The ICIR, FIJ