Oyo State Police Command Takes Action Against Blogger Accused of Falsehood
In a recent development, Mr. Gbenga Dan Asabe, a Lagos-based blogger and publisher of Asabe Africa Afrika TV on YouTube, has been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command over alleged defamation of religious leader Satguru Maharaj Ji. The arrest was carried out by a team of policemen from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The arrest took place on Saturday morning at a mosque in the Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos, following months of tracking. Asabe is currently in custody at the Iyaganku facility, pending further legal proceedings.
According to a statement released to the Nigerian Tribune, Asabe had conducted an interview with a self-proclaimed prophet, Ojo Amos Modayibi (known as Prophet Elewuogbo) two years ago. The interview, published on Asabe’s platform, allegedly contained scandalous and unwarranted accusations against Satguru Maharaj Ji, including claims of involvement in money rituals, drinking human blood, and burying human beings in Maharaj Ji village.
It was mentioned that Asabe had been evading arrest for two years, and a warrant had been issued by Zone X1 at Osogbo last year. This time, law enforcement successfully apprehended him.
During the arrest, various charms were reportedly found in Asabe’s possession. The case bears similarities to the recent arrest and arraignment of Prophet Elewuogbo for alleged defamation of Satguru Maharaj Ji.
The arrest has sparked discussions among online commentators, with some expressing concerns about law enforcement priorities, questioning why attention is focused on bloggers while more serious criminal activities persist. Others emphasized the need for a strong response against the spread of false information and defamation.
The ongoing developments in this case will likely draw attention to the balance between freedom of expression and accountability for spreading potentially harmful information