Media reports linking the ministry to the ongoing detention of blogger Harrison Ofoegbu (Ijele Speaks) have been refuted by Zion Prayer Movement Outreach.
The ministry’s Media Adviser, Dan Aibangbe, and members of the legal team called reports by Sahara Reporters that Ofoegbu had been held for a year by its Spiritual Director, Evangelist Ebuka Obi, “wholly false and misleading” during a press conference in Lagos on Saturday. They clarified that the blogger’s release order was signed by the court on August 15, 2024, after he fulfilled his bail requirements.
However, Ofoegbu is being held for other cases unconnected with Zion Ministry including a case at the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State. Zion said Sahara Reporters was fully aware of this but has instead chosen to mislead the public with falsehood, Aibangbe explained. He also clarified that Ofoegbu was on trial for threatening the life of Evangelist Ebuka.
Mrs Ugonna Okpara of the Zion Legal team who showed journalists at the conference the release papers signed by the court, explained that the blogger’s defence counsel had confirmed to the judge who tried to find out why he was still in detention that their client was being held for another case at the Federal High Court in Awka which has nothing to do with Zion Ministry or Evangelist Ebuka Obi.
Other members of the ministry’s Legal team, Kingsley Okigbo and Gerty Iloegbunam, who spoke at the briefing also called on the journalists to carry out their investigation at the Correctional Centre to confirm why the blogger was still in detention. They equally advised the media not to be deceived by the false and misleading account being circulated by Sahara Reporters.
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