The Nigeria Police Force and the Central Bank of Nigeria have come under scrutiny following the reported abduction of a journalist. The journalist is Stanley Ugagbe. He works for Secrets Reporters.
The allegation was made public on Thursday. The publisher of Secrets Reporters, Fejiro Oliver, spoke to journalists. He accused the police of unlawfully abducting Mr Ugagbe. He said the action was taken over an investigative report involving a senior CBN official.
The official is Ms. Emem Nnanna Etuk Usoro. She is the CBN Deputy Governor for Operations.
How It Happened
Mr Oliver said Mr Ugagbe was seized by armed men. The abduction occurred shortly after the journalist returned from a training programme. The programme was sponsored by the media organisation.
“The Nigerian security acting on the orders of Ms Emem Nnanna Etuk Usoro who is the CBN Deputy Governor in charge of operations has abducted a reporter with Secrets Reporters, Stanley Ugagbe, over a report on her,” Mr Oliver said.
He added that the report detailed allegations about the deputy governor’s personal life. It also covered claims about properties worth over N4 billion in the United States.
Mr Oliver disclosed that the journalist was picked up on Wednesday. “He was abducted yesterday while coming from a training the company sent him to. Stanley is also the operations manager of the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking,” he stated.
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He said the circumstances of the operation raised serious concerns. These included abuse of power, intimidation of journalists, and possible extrajudicial actions.
Mr Oliver noted that the armed men stormed Mr Ugagbe’s residence after seizing him. They were carrying Israeli-made Tavor rifles. They forced their way into the house. They confiscated his official phone and laptop.
“When I was told that the men who abducted him and brought him to his house to take his official phone and laptop came with the Israeli Tavor gun, I sent a message to the DG SSS, Tosin Ajayi,” Mr Oliver said.
DSS Responds
Mr Oliver said the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, responded swiftly.
“He called me back quickly and I expressed my concern. While on the phone with me, Tosin called the Director of Operations to the office and asked, ‘Did you arrest any Fejiro reporter and if it happened, who authorized such operation?’ The D.Ops said none of such happened,” Mr Oliver recounted.
He further claimed that the DSS boss immediately ordered inquiries. These were made with the Federal Capital Territory command.
“DG immediately asked them to call the FCT command to ask about such arrest and that he will get back to me,” he said.
About an hour later, the FCT command director contacted him. The director was identified as Dauda Esq. He denied that Mr Ugagbe was in DSS custody.
“We spoke for minutes of the efforts the command has made to be sure none of their operatives carried out such,” Mr Oliver added.
He said he believed the DSS leadership had distanced itself from the matter. He added that the agency had previously refused to be used against journalists.
“The DG SSS I know already warned that he will not be party to using cybercrime charge against journalists or allow public figures use them for such which is why I had to involve him. I know this because his office refused to get involved in my case last year despite petition to them. He blatantly said no, before the rogue police force was now used,” he alleged.
Police Suspected
Mr Oliver said further investigations pointed to the police.
“Further findings showed that one of the men that came wore knickers and they came with unmarked tinted Pajero Mitsubishi, which is peculiar with the Nigerian Police,” he stated.
He also accused senior police authorities of showing little concern.
“I have called IGP Disu and his response on phone is very cold on the issue, same issue that DG SSS immediately attended to. Even the force PRO is not helping matters,” he alleged.
According to him, efforts to trace the journalist across multiple detention facilities in Abuja had yielded no result.
“We have searched the police facilities in former SARS, FCT command and parts of police HQs and can’t find him there,” he said.
Police Have Turned to Kidnappers
The publisher likened the alleged action to kidnapping. He accused the police of abandoning their constitutional duties.
“In a time where kidnappers and bandits are kidnapping innocent citizens, the Nigerian Police has turned to kidnappers too,” Mr Oliver said.
He added: “Tell me why you will go to outside station and not document your arrival to the base station before carrying out your operations. This is a case of kidnapping and assassination attempt against our staff by the Nigerian Police on the orders of CBN Deputy Governor Emem Usoro.”
He warned that the alleged disappearance could escalate.
“If the Nigerian Police is the new bandit in town, we deserve to know. You cannot keep abducting journalists on civil cases and hiding them for extrajudicial killings later,” he stated.
He made a direct demand. “The Police should immediately release Stanley or charge him to court.”
Emem Usoro vs Stanley Ugagbe: The Background
The development comes months after Secrets Reporters published an explosive investigative report. The report was published on 29 January 2026. It detailed allegations surrounding the personal life of CBN Deputy Governor Emem Nnanna Usoro.
The publication claimed that judicial documents obtained from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory exposed a scandal. The scandal allegedly involved adultery, abuse of influence, and high-level financial privilege.
According to the report, Ms Usoro was named as a co-respondent in a matrimonial suit. The suit was filed under Suit No: FCT/HC/PET/251/2019.
The case stemmed from a cross-petition. It was instituted by Mrs. Grace Wesley against her late husband, Mr. Edirin Jerry Wesley. The allegations included adultery and desertion.
The report stated that the legal filings accused Ms Usoro of engaging in an intimate relationship with Mr. Wesley. At the time, she was a top executive at United Bank for Africa Plc. The relationship allegedly occurred while Mr. Wesley remained legally married.
According to the court documents, Mrs. Wesley alleged that Ms Usoro knowingly entered into the relationship. She did so despite being fully aware of the subsisting marriage.
The filings further alleged that children were born from the relationship. This happened during the subsistence of the statutory marriage.
Mrs. Wesley asked the court to dissolve the marriage. She argued that it had broken down irretrievably due to continuous adultery and desertion.
The court papers also sought damages against Ms Usoro. They requested an order restraining her from presenting herself as the lawful wife of Mr. Wesley.
The publication additionally claimed that investigations linked the senior CBN official to two properties in the United States. The properties were valued at over N4 billion.
Neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the CBN has issued a statement on the allegations as at the time of filing this report.