The
two Premium Times staff who were arrested but later released on
Thursday night by the Nigerian Police, have returned to the Abuja force
headquarters early on Friday.
We reported on Thursday
that the head office of popular Nigerian online news platform, Premium
Times, was raided by officers of the Nigerian Police, as the publisher
and a journalist were arrested and later released on bail after several
hours by the security operatives.
According to a new report by the news organisation, their arrested
publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi, and judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu,
have returned to the Abuja headquarters of the Police force early
Friday, amid widespread outrage that followed the raid at their office.
A highly-placed police source said the invitation could be a ploy
to detain the journalists longer, adding that there were chances the two
could be taken before a Magistrate’s Court.
“From what I understand, if they report tomorrow morning, they
will be taken to a Magistrate’s Court and arraigned before a judge that
will readily comply with the police arrangement and grant order for them
to be detained. That way, they can then claim to be detaining them
legally,” the source said.
Speaking to a correspondent, Police spokesman, Don Awunah, said the
raid and the arrests were carried out following complaints filed by
lawyers for the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.
Dapo Olorunyomi (R) and Evelyn Okakwu (L) after being released by the Nigerian Police (Photo: Premium Times)
The raid has sparked international condemnation, with the Amnesty
International promising to launch an investigation into the motive
behind it.
United State-based Committee to Protect Journalists called on the
Nigerian authorities to drop all planned charges against the journalists
and to desist from further attempts to intimidate the media.
“Arresting and charging publisher Dapo Olorunyomi and reporter
Evelyn Okakwu is a transparent ploy to intimidate and silence Premium
Times’ staff for their critical reporting,” CPJ West Africa Representative Peter Nkanga said.
Nigerians have also condemned the move as an attempt to intimidate the paper.
A letter sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, signed by Kadaria
Ahmed, and other eminent Nigerian columnists, including Pius Adesanmi,
Okey Ndibe, and Sonala Olumhense also condemned the raid.
“We expect the security services, who after all are the custodians of our laws, to lead by example by respecting these laws,” said the letter.
“Instead, what we see is a disturbing trend that suggests not
just an attempt to criminalise the important work that journalists in
Nigeria do, but also a drive to frighten and cower and stop this
critical constitutionally mandated work through the aggressive use of
the state security apparatus. We view this as an abuse of office.”
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