Nigerian journalist and publisher of Media Room Hub, Azuka Ogujiuba, has narrated her ordeal at the hands of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) after honouring a police invitation.

In a letter dated June 17, 2025, signed by Moses Jolugbo, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Special Investigation Unit stated that Ogujiuba’s name featured prominently in an ongoing case, and her clarification was considered imperative. She was asked to appear for an interview on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the IGP Special Investigation Unit office opposite the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The invitation, according to the letter, was in line with section 53 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2025. Ogujiuba’s troubles began after her platform published a court order relating to a disputed land transaction.

Years earlier, Capital Gardens had purchased four hectares of land from Oretol Nigeria Limited, owned by Adewale Oladapo, popularly known as Biggie. However, Oretol later reneged on the deal, informing Capital Gardens that it was no longer selling the property, which led to a legal dispute.

On March 25, 2025, the Lagos State High Court ordered all parties to desist from dealing with the land until the case was determined and directed that public notices be issued. In compliance, Ogujiuba’s Media Room Hub published the court order.

Speaking in Ikeja, Lagos, her lawyer, Kehinde Ebitanmi, explained: “An invitation was sent by the Nigeria Police demanding her presence, but the date was inconvenient. We responded on her behalf and proposed a new date. She honoured the invitation on August 6, 2025, and flew from Lagos to Abuja with a legal practitioner. The police, in the presence of the legal counsel, allowed her to go after detaining her for three days. They granted her bail, and the conditions were perfected. However, on August 8, 2025, the Nigeria Police forcibly took her away in a gangster manner, injuring her in the process. No warrant of arrest was issued. She tried to contact her lawyer, but they refused, thereby denying her fundamental human rights. Even after returning to Lagos, the police continued to pursue her.”

He said the incident reflected abuse of police power: “The police are meant to protect lives and property, yet they acted contrary to their purpose. Ogujiuba is unjustly punished for merely doing her job of informing the public.”

Ogujiuba herself recounted: “Police officers surrounded me like kidnappers, beat me up and injured me. After detaining me for three days, they made me write an apology letter, which the Nigeria Police dictated. They forced me to state that what I published was fake, and immediately after posting it, they used it as an advertisement on Instablog.”

A police officer made me sign an undertaking that the letter was not done under duress. They then took the letter to other media houses for publication.

“I later discovered that the same court order is still on other Instagram pages, so I don’t understand why they are targeting me.” When The Guardian reached out to Force Spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, he neither answered calls nor responded to text and WhatsApp messages.

Meanwhile, a police officer was sighted at the press briefing venue, claiming he had been instructed to attend.