Court orders House of Representatives member Ogah to Kuje prison for alleged criminal defamation

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the detention of House of Representatives member Amobi Godwin Ogar at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, citing allegations that amount to criminal defamation and false declaration.

Justice Yusuf Halilu issued the committal order soon after the Abia State lawmaker was arrested and presented before the court.

The committal order, dated June 24 and observed by our correspondent on Thursday, states that the legislator will stay in custody until July 6, when the case is set to resume.

The court document, titled Warrant of Commitment to Prison, notes that the lawmaker is under trial in Charge No. CR/650/2024 and contains the following excerpt:

“The Officer in Charge of the prison at Kuje, whereas the above-named person has been arrested and brought before me, accused of the offences of criminal defamation and false declaration, you are hereby authorised and required to receive him and detain him in custody until further order; provided that, if no further order has been made as to his disposal before July 6, 2026, you shall deliver him to a police officer to bring him before me with this warrant for an order as to his disposal.”

The federal government filed a five‑count criminal charge against the Abia lawmaker on July 31, 2024, alleging criminal defamation and false declaration.

In count one, the lawmaker was alleged to have, sometime in May 2023, made a false declaration in an affidavit at the registry of the FCT High Court, Abuja, dated May 18, 2023, against Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, then Minister of State for Labour and Employment, in which he allegedly claimed that, during a meeting with her supporters at her residence, she told them she had “bought over” the tribunal judges, particularly Hon. Justice Halima Saleeman. The charge stated that he knew the allegation was false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 164 of the Penal Code, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1963, punishable under Section 158(2) of the same Act.

In count two, he was accused of making another false