Actor and social commentator Ugezu J. Ugezu, was detained by the Nigeria Police Force following an investigation into an alleged defamatory social media publication in which he claimed that international businessman and philanthropist Prince (Hon) Daniel Kanu had been arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned in the early 2000s.
The investigation was triggered by a petition filed by Kanu on March 23, 2026, alleging that the Facebook publication contained false and malicious claims intended to damage his reputation.
The petition accused Ugezu of criminal defamation, cyberbullying and cyberstalking, prompting investigators at the Nigerian Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, in Abuja to invite the actor for questioning.
According to our sources, Ugezu honored an invitation from investigators at the NCCC in Abuja on June 3, 2026, where he was questioned over the source of the claims contained in his Facebook post.
During the interrogation, Ugezu allegedly told investigators that the information had been obtained from the internet. However, he was reportedly unable to provide any credible or verifiable source to substantiate the claims when pressed by investigators. He also reportedly stated his intention to apologize to Kanu for the false publication once he was released from police detention, adding that his objective in publishing the post was to advise young people to make responsible life choices.
Police subsequently detained Ugezu after questioning him.
According to accounts from a source that preferred anonymity, the actor was later granted administrative bail, but had to be transferred to the detention facility of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, after he failed to satisfy the conditions attached to his bail.
Sources close to the matter said that although Ugezu admitted authoring the false publication and later issued an apology following his detention, the statement stopped short of a clear retraction of the allegations or an unequivocal acknowledgment that the publication was false as he had previously admitted during police interrogation.
They maintained that the apology did not sufficiently repair the damage allegedly caused to Kanu’s reputation.As a result, Ugezu has been invited to report to the police in two weeks for further interrogation.
Those familiar with the matter said the action is intended not only to clear Kanu’s name but also to reinforce accountability for the publication of unverified allegations on digital platforms.
In an earlier statement responding to the controversy, Kanu categorically denied ever being arrested, charged, tried or imprisoned in Nigeria or any other jurisdiction. He described the claims circulated on social media as “patently false, malicious and defamatory” and insisted they were part of a deliberate attempt to destroy his reputation.
He also emphasised his record as an entrepreneur and philanthropist with investments and youth empowerment initiatives across Nigeria.
At the time of this report, neither Ugezu nor his representatives could be reached for comments on the investigation.
The dispute adds to growing concerns over the spread of unverified information on Nigeria’s social media space.The investigation remains ongoing.
Our source says the police have assured Prince Kanu that complaints of cyberbullying and related offences are taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated. They further stated that the outcome of the probe will determine whether additional legal or administrative steps will be taken in connection with Ugezu’s publication.
