The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos State has demanded justice for Ms. Maureen Omorinola Badejo, a United Kingdom-based Nigerian blogger and activist, and is also seeking an end to judicial persecution.
The coalition, in a statement on Sunday, signed by Comrade Wale Ojo, Chairman, CDHR, Lagos Branch, and Comrade Ola Agboola Jnr., Chairman media, noted that on Monday, March 16, 2026, Ms. Badejo will appear before Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, for a ruling on her bail application.
Recall that she has been remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre since her arraignment on March 6 on charges of conspiracy and defamation brought by the Nigeria Police Force.
The coalition, therefore, is seeking the immediate and unconditional release of Ms. Badejo on March 16, 2026, saying that her continued detention serves no purpose other than to punish her for exercising her constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression.
The CSOs demand discontinuance of all charges against her. “These charges represent a classic case of using criminal defamation laws to settle what are essentially civil disputes, a practice that has no place in a democratic society governed by the rule of law.”
While demanding an end to the weaponisation of state institutions for private vendettas, the coalition said, “The Nigeria Police Force and Interpol must not be reduced to tools in the hands of powerful individuals seeking to intimidate their critics..
“Judicial independence and integrity must be upheld. We call on Justice Akintayo Aluko to rise above any external pressures and demonstrate that our courts remain sanctuaries of justice, not arenas for persecution.
“We demand that those who have orchestrated this judicial ambush, who have abused court processes and deployed state security apparatus for personal interests, be held accountable for their actions.
According to the coalition, the fight transcends Maureen Badejo. “It’s about every Nigerian who dares to speak out against injustice, who uses their voice to demand accountability, who refuses to be silenced by power and privilege.
“The pattern is unmistakable: criticise the powerful, and you’ll face the full weight of the state. Speak truth, and you’ll be met with charges. Demand accountability, and you’ll be remanded in custody. This is the face of authoritarian creep in Nigeria.
“We remind the Nigerian judiciary of its sacred duty: to protect the rights of all persons within the territory of Nigeria, regardless of their status or the identity of their accusers. The Constitution guarantees Ms. Badejo the right to liberty, the right to fair hearing, and the right to freedom of expression. These are not privileges to be granted at the discretion of the court, they are fundamental rights that must be protected at all costs.
“We call on the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, human rights organisations across the globe, and all friends of democracy to pay urgent attention to the deteriorating state of judicial independence and freedom of expression in Nigeria. The world must see what is being done in the name of “justice.”
It also appealed to the media to investigate the petitions, the prosecutors, and the pressures behind the case. “Expose the truth that powerful interests desperately want to hide.”
While insisting on justice, the coalition noted that what is unfolding is not the pursuit of justice but a carefully orchestrated judicial ambush designed to silence a critical voice. “We have witnessed this disturbing trend where the machinery of the state is weaponised to settle private scores, where powerful individuals deploy law enforcement agencies to intimidate and incarcerate those who dare to speak truth to power.
“The charges against Ms. Badejo stem from petitions filed by clerics, individuals who, notably, have engaged with her in legal battles across international jurisdictions. In March 2022, the UK High Court of Justice ordered Apostle Johnson Suleman to pay Ms. Badejo £19,601 in a defamation suit he had filed against her. This critical context, that a British court found merit in her position, has been conveniently swept aside by the Nigerian prosecution.”
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