Secrets Reporters Journalist Stanley Ugagbe Regains Freedom After Bail Conditions Perfected

Secrets Reporters

Journalist and senior reporter with SecretsReporters, Stanley Ugagbe, has regained his freedom from the Kuje Correctional Facility in Abuja after spending months in custody over charges arising from publications concerning the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Emem Usoro.

Ugagbe was released on Friday, October 2, 2026, following the perfection of the bail conditions granted to him by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

His release brings to an end his latest period of detention, which began in July after he was arraigned before the court on a six-count charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police. 

Recall that on July 1, 2026, Stanley Ugagbe was abducted by armed men in Abuja after being intercepted on his way home by the close of work.

He was thereafter taken into a black, tinted Mitsubishi Pajero with no visible number plate and also took his mobile phone and laptop.

His whereabouts were initially unknown, prompting concerns from colleagues, media organisations and the lodge of an abduction complaint at the Jikwoyi Police station.

The Nigeria Police Force initially denied that Ugagbe was being detained at any police facility within the Federal Capital Territory. However, he was later located at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, in Abuja.

Ugagbe spent several days at the NCCC before being released on bail on July 6. His release, however, did not bring the matter to an end.

On July 13, Ugagbe returned to the NCCC to retrieve his laptop and mobile phone, which had been seized during his earlier detention but was detained again by the police and taken to court.

He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 14.

He is expected to continue defending himself against the charges as the case proceeds before the Federal High Court in Abuja.