A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi has ordered the remand of popular social media activist and influencer, Scott Iguma, over allegations of criminal defamation against a real estate company, PWAN Group.
Iguma, who was arrested on Wednesday by officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, appeared before the court on Thursday. He is to remain in custody until Monday when the case is expected to continue.
According to a 10-count charge filed by the police, Iguma allegedly published a series of defamatory posts on his Instagram account, which has over one million followers. The police claim the posts accused PWAN of collecting money from clients without allocating land and labeled the company’s founder as “the leader of the thieves.”
Among the posts cited in court was one allegedly published by Iguma on May 27 and 28, 2025, where he wrote: “If anything happens to me, PWAN should be number 1 suspect. If anything happens to my family, nuclear and extended, hold PWAN responsible, even if I fall sick, hold PWAN responsible.” In another post, he reportedly claimed: “PWAN Real Estate Company, the company that sells receipt to people instead of land… I can boldly state and advise, do not buy property from PWAN for now.”
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police A.O. Nwabuisi, argued that the posts were false, incited public unrest, posed a threat to life, and violated Section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, punishable under Section 24 (2)(ii), as amended in 2024.
Supporters of Iguma have taken to his Instagram page, @scott_iguma, to criticize his arrest. A statement shared on the account condemned the police action, claiming it was illegal and amounted to intimidation. “Assuming but not conceding that his videos defamed PWAN, defamation is no longer a crime in Lagos State since the Criminal Law of 2011 decriminalised it,” the statement read.
The post also accused officials of using police influence to suppress Iguma, stating: “PWAN used the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Yaba Panti, to detain Scott Iguma.”
The court will reconvene on Monday to decide on the next steps in the case.
