The founder of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, Ebuka Obi, has denied claims of being behind the continued detention of controversial blogger, Chizorom Ofoegbu, popularly known as “Ijele Speaks.”

The Zion founder had sued Ofoegbu before a Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of threats to life.

However, he claimed that Ofoegbu was initially granted bail on June 14, 2024, but failed to meet the bail conditions.

He then applied for a variation of the terms through his legal counsel, a request which the prosecution did not oppose.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Saturday, the Media and Public Relations Consultant to Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, Mr Dan Aibangbe, alongside the church’s legal team, refuted the allegations circulating in some sections of the media.

They described the claims as “baseless, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and tarnish the image of the church and its spiritual leader.”

Showing journalists Certified True Copies of court proceedings, Aibangbe said the legal team believed that Ofoegbu had perfected his bail conditions and should have been released.

He said the court later granted the application to vary the bail conditions, and the trial was adjourned to October 21 and 22, 2024.

“As far as we know he has perfected the bail conditions thereafter and ought to have been released,” Aibangbe said.

However, the church’s legal representatives explained that, when the trial resumed on October 21, 2024, Ofoegbu’s lawyer informed the court that his client was still in custody and had not been brought to court by officials of the Nigerian Correctional Services.

The president judge, Akintayo Aluko was said to have sought clarification from the prosecution on why Ofoegbu remained in custody despite having met bail conditions.

The prosecutor then informed the court that the blogger was being held in prison over a separate matter involving allegations of defamation and cyberstalking brought against him by another religious leader, and founder of Living Christ Mission, Victor Onukaogu, popularly called Daddy Hezekiah.

That case is currently before the High Court in Awka, Anambra State.

“This current incarceration is unrelated to the matter involving Evangelist Ebuka Obi. It stems from a different legal issue involving alleged cybercrime and defamation,” the prosecutor stated.

The church’s legal team, Aibangbe said Evangelist Obi, only fulfilled his civic responsibility by reporting to the police what he believed was a credible threat to his life.

They reiterated that Evangelist Obi did not oppose Ofoegbu’s bail and had no hand in his continued detention.

“Our records show that Ofoegbu was granted bail in July 2024, and his bail was perfected. We have documentary evidence to confirm this.

“His ongoing detention is not connected in any way to Evangelist Obi or the Zion Prayer Movement Outreach,” the team stated.

They urged the media and the public to disregard the “fabricated” report and warned that legal action may be taken against individuals or platforms involved in spreading falsehoods.

“We urge Nigerians to seek verified information and reject sensationalist narratives designed to tarnish reputations. Zion Prayer Movement Outreach stands for truth, transparency, and integrity,” the church stressed.