On July 16, 2025, Mr Scott Iguma, an activist, was arrested by officers of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti, and arraigned at a Federal High Court in Lagos the next day, on four counts of defamation, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, No. 17 of 2015.
According to reports, the police are prosecuting Mr Iguna for allegedly posting videos on his Instagram handle accusing PWAN, a real estate company, as fraudulent, adding that several investors have accused it of failing to allocate lands despite collecting payments for them.
When Mr Iguma was arraigned, Mr Augustine Nwabuisi, the police prosecution counsel, told the court that he allegedly committed the offences between May 27 and 28, 2025, at the Lekki Gardens in Sangotedo, Lagos. The police prosecution counsel informed the court that the activist used his social media platform to post unverified and defamatory statements against Dr Augustine Onwumere, the founder of a real estate company, PWAN Group, and that he allegedly described Dr Onwumere as a “criminal” operating a “fraudulent business,” and warned the public against dealing with PWAN.
Mr Nwabuisi said that the activist allegedly used his Instagram account to disseminate false information with the intent to threaten, defame, and incite the public against Onwumere and his company.
The police prosecutor also said that Mr Iguma circulated Dr Onwumere’s photographs across multiple social media platforms in a manner intended to damage his reputation and incite hatred or lawlessness.
One of the charges filed against Mr Iguma reads, “That you, Scott Iguma ‘M’, on or before the 27th day of May, 2025, at Lekki Gardens, Sangotedo, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did knowingly and intentionally send a message via a computer system through your Instagram account, which has over one million followers/viewers, stating: ‘If anything happens to me, PWAN should be the number one suspect. If anything happens to my family, nuclear and extended, PWAN should be held responsible. Even if I fall sick, hold PWAN responsible,’ knowing the same to be false, for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order, hatred, posing a threat to life or causing such messages to be sent.”
The police prosecutor said the offences for which Mr Iguma was being tried contravened Section 24(1)(b) and are punishable under Section 24(2)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act (As Amended) 2024.
The activist pleaded not guilty, but Friday Oghazi ordered that he should be remanded in the custody of the correctional centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application scheduled for July 21, 2025.
PWAN has, however, distanced itself from the activist’s ordeal. In a statement signed by the head of its media team, Mr Leslie Ejiro, the company denied orchestrating Mr Iguma’s arrest, detention, and prosecution.
On July 21, Justice Oghazi granted bail to Mr Iguma in the sum of N10 million, with one surety in like sum. The Court said the surety must present documents proving ownership of property within the court’s jurisdiction. Alternatively, the Court said the surety may be a civil servant with either the Federal or Lagos State Government, not below Grade Level 12 and must provide evidence of tax payment.
Justice Oghazi further ordered both the nominal complainant and the defendant to refrain from making public comments about the ongoing case either online or through media platforms, noting that the matter is now before the court.
