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Journalist allegedly abducted over CBN report as Police, CBN face scrutiny
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are facing scrutiny following allegations that a journalist with Secrets Reporters, Stanley Ugagbe, was abducted by security operatives over an investigative report involving the CBN Deputy Governor for Operations, Emem Nnanna Etuk Usoro.
The allegation was made on Thursday by the publisher of Secrets Reporters, Fejiro Oliver, who claimed security operatives unlawfully detained the journalist after he returned from a training programme sponsored by the media organisation.
According to Oliver, Ugagbe was seized on Wednesday and later taken to his residence, where his official phone and laptop were confiscated.
Oliver alleged that the operation was connected to a report published by Secrets Reporters concerning the CBN deputy governor.
> “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,” he alleged.
He described the incident as raising serious concerns over abuse of power, intimidation of journalists and unlawful detention.
Oliver added that Ugagbe also serves as the Operations Manager of the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking.
The publisher further claimed that armed operatives carrying Israeli-made Tavor rifles arrived at the journalist’s residence in an unmarked tinted Mitsubishi Pajero.
According to Oliver, he contacted the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Ajayi, who immediately ordered internal checks.
He said the DSS subsequently informed him that the agency had not arrested Ugagbe, while a senior DSS official in the Federal Capital Territory also denied that the journalist was in the service’s custody.
Oliver added that searches conducted at several police facilities in Abuja, including the former SARS office, the FCT Police Command and parts of the Force Headquarters, failed to locate the journalist.
> “We have searched the police facilities in former SARS, FCT Command and parts of Police Headquarters and can’t find him there,” he said.
He accused the police of failing to provide clear information on Ugagbe’s whereabouts and demanded his immediate release or arraignment before a competent court.
> “The Police should immediately release Stanley or charge him to court,” Oliver said.
He also warned against the use of cybercrime allegations or civil disputes as tools to intimidate journalists.
The controversy follows an investigative report published by Secrets Reporters on January 29, 2026, which contained allegations regarding the personal life and assets of CBN Deputy Governor Emem Nnanna Etuk Usoro.
The report cited court documents from a matrimonial case before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, alleging that Usoro was named as a co-respondent. It also claimed that investigations linked the senior CBN official to two properties in the United States valued at more than ₦4 billion.
The allegations against the CBN deputy governor have not been independently verified. Neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the Central Bank of Nigeria had publicly responded to the claims at the time of filing this report.
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