By media360impact
A senior reporter with SecretsReporters, Stanley Ugagbe, has been detained again by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, according to information obtained by the newspaper from sources familiar with the matter.
The fresh detention reportedly occurred on Monday, July 13, 2026, less than a week after Ugagbe regained his freedom on police bail following an earlier detention.
According to sources who spoke with SecretsReporters, Ugagbe had been invited by police officers to retrieve his official laptop and mobile phones, which were seized during his earlier arrest. However, upon arriving to collect the items, he was allegedly detained again.
Sources further claimed that the police intend to arraign the journalist before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday over allegations including espionage, cyberstalking and other computer-related offences.
SecretsReporters has not independently verified the specific charges expected to be filed in court, and as of the time of publication, the Nigeria Police Force had not released any official statement confirming the reasons for the fresh detention or the nature of the charges.
Sources close to the matter alleged that the case was initiated following investigative reports published by SecretsReporters concerning the assets and business interests of the Deputy Governor (Operations) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Emem Usoro.
The reports include:
Exclusive: CBN Deputy Governor Emem Nnana Usoro Hides N1.4 Billion California Luxury Condo in Asset Declaration Scandal – Part 1;
Exclusive: CBN Deputy Governor Emem Usoro Linked to N3.6 Billion Los Angeles Property Amid Questions Over Asset Declaration Compliance – Part 2; and
Against Nigerian Law, CBN Deputy Governor Emem Usoro Allows Her Eleven-Year-Old Twin Daughters to Be Company Boss.
The newspaper notes that these are allegations that have not been determined by any court, and there has been no public judicial finding against the CBN official regarding the publications.
Police sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, told SecretsReporters that investigators reportedly recovered only journalistic materials from Ugagbe’s laptop, alongside freelance articles he occasionally submitted to a Nigerian publisher based in Canada.
The sources also alleged that investigators were under pressure from senior government officials to proceed with the case. SecretsReporters could not independently verify that claim.
Ugagbe’s ordeal began on July 1, 2026, when armed operatives arrested him and confiscated his phones and laptop before taking him away in an unmarked vehicle. His whereabouts remained unknown for several days, prompting widespread concern from his family, colleagues and press freedom advocates.
The incident attracted condemnation from media organisations, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), which called on security agencies to disclose his whereabouts, grant him access to his family and legal representatives, and either charge him before a competent court or release him.
International press freedom organisations also reacted. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Nigerian authorities to ensure his safety and investigate the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, while the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) participated in efforts that preceded his release.
Ugagbe was released on bail on July 6, 2026, while police said investigations into allegations of espionage, cyberstalking and related offences were continuing.
His latest detention has renewed concerns among media rights advocates over press freedom, due process and the treatment of journalists carrying out investigative reporting.
As of the time of filing this report, repeated calls and messages to the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force for official comments were not returned. Efforts to obtain responses from the Central Bank of Nigeria and Emem Usoro regarding the allegations referenced in this report were also unsuccessful before publication.
SecretsReporters will update this report if official responses are received.
