Mr Friday Alefia, publisher of Naija News Today, was reportedly arrested in Lagos by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police and transferred to Abuja, where he is being held at the detention facility of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) over alleged cybercrime relating to a report he published about Hon. Chinedu Ogah, who represents Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Mr Alefia was allegedly arrested following a petition by Hon. Ogah, who accused him of defamation, cyberbullying, and character assassination over a report published on December 20, 2024, titled “Ogah’s Political Future Uncertain Amid Senate Rumours.” The platform also published a second article on May 15, 2025, titled “2027 — The Year Chinedu Ogah Might Finally Fade Into Political Irrelevance.” The House member found these articles critical of his political performance and, as a result, filed a petition against the journalist.
Speaking with the media on October 12, 2025, the publisher’s elder brother, Uchenna Nwanchor, stated that the family did not know the exact date of his arrest but said that he had been in custody for more than two weeks. He added that a relative, who had been taking food to Mr Alefia in detention, informed the family that his health was deteriorating daily.
Several people have pleaded with Hon. Ogar to release the journalist, but he said the matter was already before a court.
The House member described Mr Alefia’s publications as attempts to tarnish his reputation, claiming the detained publisher had written “about 36 stories” against him.
