Abia lawmaker remanded in Kuje prison over alleged criminal defamation

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered the remand of a member of the House of Representatives, Amobi Godwin Ogah, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, over allegations of criminal defamation and false declaration.

The remand order was issued by Justice Yusuf Halilu shortly after the federal lawmaker was arrested and brought before the court in connection with an ongoing criminal trial.

According to a warrant of commitment dated June 24, 2026, the lawmaker will remain in custody pending the continuation of proceedings in the matter, which has been adjourned until July 6, 2026.

The court document, titled Warrant of Commitment to Prison, directed officials of the Kuje Correctional Centre to take custody of the lawmaker and detain him until further orders of the court.

Part of the order stated that the defendant had been arrested and brought before the court to answer charges relating to criminal defamation and false declaration.

The warrant further indicated that if no fresh order is made before the next adjourned date, prison authorities are to produce him before the court through a police officer for further directives regarding his case.

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The charges are contained in Charge No. CR/650/2024, filed by the Federal Government against the lawmaker.

The case stems from a five-count criminal charge instituted by the Federal Government on July 31, 2024, against the Abia State lawmaker.

Prosecutors accused the legislator of making false declarations and defamatory statements against former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

According to court documents, one of the allegations relates to an affidavit allegedly deposed to by the lawmaker on May 18, 2023, at the registry of the FCT High Court in Abuja.

The prosecution claimed that in the affidavit, Ogah alleged that Onyejeocha had informed her supporters during a meeting at her residence that she had “bought over” judges handling an election tribunal matter, particularly Justice Halima Saleeman.

The Federal Government alleged that the statement was false and knowingly made by the defendant, thereby constituting an offence under the Penal Code.

In another count, the lawmaker was accused of making a separate declaration in the same affidavit alleging that Onyejeocha had influenced the removal of a former chairman of an election tribunal panel to pave the way for Justice Halima Saleeman, whom he claimed she knew personally and who would allegedly deliver judgment in her favour.

The prosecution argued that the allegation was false, defamatory, and intended to damage the reputation of the former minister.

According to the charge, the statements contravened provisions of the Penal Code dealing with criminal defamation and false declarations.

One of the counts specifically accuses the lawmaker of making false declarations with the intention of harming Onyejeocha’s reputation.

The charge alleges that the statements caused reputational damage to the former minister and constituted an offence punishable under Section 393 of the Penal Code.

Prosecutors maintain that the declarations were made within the jurisdiction of the FCT and were intended to portray the former minister as having improperly influenced judicial proceedings.

With the remand order now in effect, the lawmaker is expected to remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the matter comes up again before the court on July 6.

The case is expected to draw significant public and political attention given its links to allegations involving judicial integrity, election-related disputes, and the reputations of high-profile public officials.

Neither the defendant nor his legal representatives had publicly reacted to the latest court order as of the time of filing this report.

The proceedings mark the latest development in a legal battle that has been before the courts since 2024, with the Federal Government seeking to prove allegations of criminal defamation and false declarations against the serving federal legislator.