Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Delta State High Court has declined the bail application filed on behalf of Ifeanyi Ogbonna, the content creator and social media personality popularly known as Odogwu Asaba, who is facing allegations relating to the death of twenty-year-old Favour Agbro. The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, following arguments by counsel on the defendant's bail application. The court ordered that Ogbonna remain in custody at the Ogwashi-Uku Maximum Correctional Centre and directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to file the Information within fourteen days.
According to a statement by the defendant's counsel, Triple O and C Chambers, the court declined the application at this stage, noting concerns relating to the applicant's safety and possible public reaction, while the Information was yet to be filed by the DPP. The court, however, held that the defendant would be at liberty to apply for bail after the Information had been filed. Counsel to Ogbonna, Ugochukwu Okoli, N.N. Onuzurike and C.S. Chukwudolue, appeared for the applicant, while Dr R.O. Ishiguzo, a law officer with the Nigeria Police Force, State CID, Asaba, represented the respondent, the State Commissioner of Police.
The development was also confirmed by Awele Ideal, the lawyer representing Favour's family on a pro bono basis. In an update, Ideal said the bail application was argued and that the court subsequently ruled against granting bail to Ogbonna. She said she remained committed to representing Favour's family and providing legal services on a pro bono basis. According to Ideal, Ogbonna's lawyers filed the bail application about three weeks ago, after which the family's legal team filed its response opposing the application. She invoked the legal maxim Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum, meaning "let justice be done though the heavens fall," to express her determination to see the case through. She also confirmed that she had been handling the matter without charging professional fees and had provided financial support to ensure the case was properly pursued.
The ruling comes less than two weeks after the court ordered Ogbonna's remand following the conclusion of investigations into the case. On September 4, the court granted an application to remand Ogbonna after the police investigation team received the autopsy and toxicology test results relating to Favour's death. Ideal had said the results were incorporated into the investigation report prepared for the prosecution and trial of the case. The case was subsequently expected to proceed under the supervision of the Delta State Ministry of Justice, through the Attorney-General and Director of Public Prosecutions.
The controversy began in June after Favour, a twenty-year-old woman from Delta State, travelled to Asaba following an alleged invitation from Ogbonna, who police said had offered to train her in content creation and help her monetise her TikTok and Facebook accounts. According to the Delta State Police Command, Favour was allegedly taken to a hotel upon arriving in Asaba, where Ogbonna allegedly raped and physically assaulted her. Police said Favour returned home visibly distressed and narrated what she claimed had happened to her parents before recording a video recounting her experience. She later ingested a toxic substance and died while receiving treatment, according to the police account. Ogbonna, who was arrested by the Delta State Police Command in July following a petition over the allegations, has denied the allegations through his legal defence.
The case has drawn intense public attention since Favour's death, with her family and supporters demanding justice and the police maintaining that the allegations would be thoroughly investigated. Reacting to the ruling, Comrade Deo, a human rights advocate involved in the campaign for justice for Favour, described the development as a reminder that justice is a process. He commended Ideal for representing Favour's family and opposing the bail application. Deo also alleged that activists had worked with the police in efforts that led to Ogbonna's arrest in Asaba after monitoring his movements. However, he stressed that the refusal of bail did not amount to a conviction. "The refusal of bail is not a conviction, and the allegations against the accused remain allegations until determined by the court," he said.
The court's decision to deny bail at this stage reflects a careful consideration of the circumstances surrounding the case, including concerns about the applicant's safety and the potential for public reaction. The fact that the Information has not yet been filed by the DPP means that the substantive case is still in its early stages. Ogbonna's lawyers have indicated that they will renew the bail application once the Information is filed, and the court has expressly left the door open for such an application. For now, however, Ogbonna will remain at the Ogwashi-Uku Maximum Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
The case has also sparked a broader conversation about the role of social media in shaping public opinion and the presumption of innocence. Ogbonna's wife publicly defended him in August, saying he did not rape or kill Favour and claiming that the two had an affair. She urged members of the public not to determine Ogbonna's guilt through social media, stressing that the matter should be decided through the legal process. Ogbonna has not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations against him remain subject to determination by the court. The ruling on Tuesday is a reminder that bail is not a verdict on guilt or innocence, but a procedural decision based on the circumstances of the case. As the proceedings continue, the focus must remain on the evidence, the law, and the pursuit of justice for all parties involved. The case will proceed with the filing of the Information by the DPP, after which Ogbonna may renew his bail application. The court has made it clear that its decision was based on the stage of the proceedings, and that the defendant's right to apply for bail after the Information is filed remains intact.
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