Social media influencer Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, popularly known as Ijele Speaks II, has been released from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos.
His release on Friday followed the signing of a release warrant by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos, in accordance with the bail earlier granted to him.
On Thursday, SaharaReporters had reported that the court again granted Ofoegbu bail in Charge No: FHC/L/321/2024—Inspector General of Police v. Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu—under the same conditions as his previous bail.
Justice Osiagor, expressing concern over Ofoegbu’s prolonged detention despite meeting his bail conditions, noted that federal prosecutors had repeatedly failed to appear for his arraignment.
In the absence of a valid court order to continue holding him, the judge directed the defence team to request his release from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre formally.
Ofoegbu had been detained for over a year.
A Lagos-based lawyer, Yakubu Galadima, Esq., had submitted a formal petition to the Comptroller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos Command, demanding the immediate release of Ofoegbu, who had been in custody since March 2024.
In the petition addressed to the Lagos Command headquarters in Alagbon, Galadima decried the continued detention of Ofoegbu despite his full compliance with bail conditions set by the Federal High Court.
He noted that on June 14, 2024, the Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice A. Aluko, granted bail to Ofoegbu in Charge No: FHC/L/321/2024 – Inspector General of Police v. Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu.
The court later varied the bail conditions on July 19, 2024, and the defendant had since perfected all requirements.
Galadima expressed shock that Ofoegbu remained detained at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre despite meeting all legal conditions.
