A YouTuber Israel Balogun has been detained by the police in Abuja over allegations of criminal defamation and cyber stalking of founder of the Omega Fire Ministries International Apostle Johnson Suleman.
Mr Balogun, 38, had posted a video to YouTube where he showed clips of Suleman declaring to his congregation that angels would deposit money into their bank accounts.
The clips were from the cleric’s ministrations in Atlanta, United States, and Auchi, Edo State, where worshippers showed their phones to testify to receiving credit alerts in their bank accounts.
Balogun attacked Suleman over the claims he described as false.
Balogun, a native of Ogun State, said he soon received a phone call from a man identified as Obi-West whom he described as Suleman’s eyes on social media. According to him, Obi-West threatened to make him go “missing”.
Balogun said that he received a letter from Suleman’s lawyer on Monday, August 2, 2021, demanding a public apology within seven days.
He also said he received an invitation from the Special Enquiry Bureau, Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The letter, signed by ACP Yahaya Abubakar, asked Balogun to report at the FCIID on Wednesday, August 11, 2021.
Balogun’s lawyer Inibehe Effiong confirmed to PUNCH on Wednesday that the YouTuber was detained after honouring the police invitation.
He said, “The formal interrogation was for about four hours, including the time they used in taking his statements. Part of his bail conditions was to provide two sureties with landed property and certificate of ownership in Abuja, and a level 14 civil servant with either a letter of last employment or letter of introduction.
“We have somebody with CofO, and presented a level 13 civil servant, which they accepted. But they insisted that the person should bring a letter of introduction, whereas the person has a letter of last promotion. Even though we said we will bring the originals tomorrow, they rejected it and put Balogun in the cell.”
