Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and owner of the Sahara reporters news network, has appealed for justice for the Aphrodisiac dealer Hauwa Muhammed popularly known as Jaruma.
Jaruma has been detained in the Suleja Correctional Center over a social media post she made about Regina Daniels’ husband, business billionaire Ned Nwoko.
She said on her Instagram page on Saturday that she paid Nollywood star, Regina Daniels, ten million naira to promote her product, but she failed to do so.
Jaruma also claimed that Ned Nwoko promised to frame her and fabricate evidence against her.
Now Nwoko had signed a petition against Jaruma, accusing the popular Kayanmata seller of spreading lies about him and his wife, Regina, on her Instagram page.
Jaruma was charged with defamation of character, fake news dissemination, and intimidation before an Abuja Upper Area Court. Nwoko had reported the case to the FCT Police Command for thorough investigation through a written petition from his lawyer on January 20, 2021, according to Police Prosecutor E. A Inegbenoise.
Inegbenoise pleaded with the court to keep Jaruma in detention while an investigation is being carried out, but her lawyer, James Odibe, made an oral bail appeal, begging the court to grant the defendant bail on self-recognition or in the most liberal terms possible. Justice Ismailia Abdullahi, the chief judge, ordered Jaruma to be held in Suleja Correctional Centre until her bail hearing on Friday, January 28. Abdullahi then postponed the case’s trial until February 23, 2022.
Sowore responded to the news on his Instagram page, emphasizing that defamation is a civil matter and that Jaruma must be set free.
He said: “#FreeJaruma: It is disheartening that Nigeria Police Force continues to deploy itself to despicable VIP mercenary activities. This so-called Billionairë, Ned Nwoko has done so much damage to lots of innocent citizens in his community with the aid of the Nigerian police. Jaruma is his latest victim. This culture cannot stand! Defamation is a civil matter! Let @jaruma_empire go!
#RevolutionNow #WeCantContinueLikeThis.”