The police in Abuja have detained a Lagos-based vlogger for alleged criminal defamation and cyber stalking of Apostle Johnson Suleman, the general overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries International.
It is understood that the 38-year-old named Israel Balogun was interrogated and detained after an invitation was sent to him from the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCID), Abuja, on August 3.
Balogun was said to have posted a video on Youtube, showing clips of Suleman declaring to his congregation that angels would deposit money into their bank accounts.
It was gathered that at Suleman’s church services in the US and Edo state, worshippers had testified to receiving bank alerts.
Balogun had addressed the stunt, described the claims as false, and heavily criticised Suleman’s ministration.
According to Punch, the YouTuber said he later got a threat call from one Obi-West and a letter from Suleman’s lawyer demanding a public apology before some police operatives stormed Lagos from Abuja to take him away.
“Obi-West said killing me is nothing to them. I recorded the whole conversation and used it in recording another video where I called people to rescue me because my life was in danger,” Balogun was quoted as saying.
“I was still consulting with my lawyer when somebody called to notify me that some guys from Abuja were in Lagos to pick me up to Abuja. My wife, daughter, and I immediately abandoned our home and went into hiding.”
The police invite signed by one Yahaya Abubakar (ACP) had asked Balogun to report at the FCIID on August 11, 2021.
“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.
“The conditions are difficult and unnecessary given the nature of the offence. There is no reason why the police should get involved as he (Suleman) should have gone to court to file legal action if he felt he had been defamed.”
Suleman earlier said he observed that Youtubers often abused him to gain traffic to their page and make money.
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