Defamation: Court sends social media influencer Scott Iguma to prison

By Ayox Ojo

Scott Iguma, a popular Lagos -based social media influencer and activist was on Thursday remanded till in prison till Monday over alleged defamation of a real estate company, PWAN.

Iguma was arraigned before Federal High Court, Ikoyi following his arrest on Wednesday at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, Lagos.

He was arraigned on a a 10-count charge bordering on the alleged publication of false information and defamation on his Instagram platform with over one million followers.

Police, in the charge sheet, accused Iguma of posting videos and messages in which he accused PWAN of refusal to allocate land to investors who had paid to the company.

In the charge sheet filed by Assistant Superintendent of Police and Senior Legal Officer, A.O. Nwabuisi, Iguma was accused of posting on his instagram page that the founder of PWAN was “the leader of the thieves.”

Police said in the charge sheet that Iguma on May 27 and 28, 2025 posted on his Instagram platform that: “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.”

The social media influncer, police said also at another time posted: “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 Police argued that the posts by Igunma were false and intended to cause a breakdown of law and order, pose a threat to life, and incite public hatred. They claim Iguma’s actions contravened Section 24 (1)(b) and are punishable under Section 24 (2)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act as amended in 2024.

Police also noted that when Iguma was arrested he, on his Instagram page, @scott_iguma, posted: “The Nigerian Police Force has again towed the path of illegality by detaining our client, Mr Scott Iguma, today for purportedly defaming PWAN.

“Assuming but not conceding that his videos defamed PWAN, defamation is no longer a crime in Lagos State following its decriminalisation under the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2011. The Nigeria Police should stop being a vehicle for intimidation.”

Meanwhile, PWAN Group has denied any role in the arrest and detention of activist Scott Iguma in a statement issued on Thursday

The statement partly read: “We wish to state unequivocally that PWAN, as a private corporate entity, neither has the authority nor has ever exercised any power to arrest or detain any individual. The suggestion that we are responsible for Mr Iguma’s current legal challenges is entirely false, malicious, and deeply misleading.

“While it is true that Mr Iguma has, in recent months, waged a sustained smear campaign against PWAN, we have consistently responded with professionalism, restraint, and full adherence to legal channels. Despite persistent provocations and the dissemination of falsehoods, we extended multiple invitations to Mr Iguma for peaceful dialogue—offers he publicly declined, as evident in his social media posts.”

“According to information reliably available to us, Mr Iguma is currently being held for allegedly evading lawful police invitations and for a reported altercation with law enforcement officials at Panti.

“These events are unrelated to PWAN and occurred independently of any involvement or directive from our organisation. We understand these issues were brought before Justice Oghazi of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, during Mr Iguma’s recent arraignment.”