Police arrest journalist for report against ex-CBN gov's firm

Date: 2019-10-30

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a journalist with NewsDigest, Adebowale Adekoya, over a report which seemed to be targeted against a company owned by a former acting governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Sarah Alade.

According to PRNigeria, the report titled, 'Inside Kwara factory where Indian hemp smoking is legalised', centred on Hillcrest Agro-Allied Industry, one of the group of companies owned by Mrs Alade.

It was however learnt that Adekoya was not the author of the story but another reporter with the outfit.

Adekoya was arrested in Ikorodu, Lagos while going home and whisked away to Ilorin, Kwara State.

The story was published by NewsDigest in May, 2018.

In the report, it was stated that Hillcrest Agro-Alied Industry tolerated the smoking of cigarettes as well as Indian hemp by workers within its vicinity.

The NewsDigest's investigative journalist, in his report, further disclosed that workers smoked Indian hemp at will without being sanctioned.

It was also reported that the firm refused to respond to author's inquiry on the disturbing situation, after he had put several calls and text messages to the industry's hot line.

Lawyer to Adekoya, Yunus Abdulsalam, told The PUNCH that he had not had access to his client since his arrest.

Abdulsalam lamented that his client was arrested for another person's alleged act, adding that this was unlawful.

He said, "He is still in detention and efforts are on to secure his release. They have not even stated his crime because we haven't been granted access to him but the information we got was that he was arrested over a report in NewsDigest in 2018.

"He was not even the author of the report. That is the strange aspect of the entire saga. Nigerian law prohibits arrest by substitution."

Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kwara State, Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, said the journalist would be taken to Abuja as part of investigations.

Okasanmi said, "The case is being investigated. It is a case of defamation of character. The character of a person was defamed. He was arrested and taken to Kwara. He will also be taken to Abuja as part of investigation.

"There is an element of criminality in the allegations. It is not just defamation alone. By Wednesday, we will have more information."

Reacting to the arrest, Gidado Yushau, Editor of NewsDigest, expressed shock over the arrest of his online newspaper's webmaster, describing the police's action as an "unbridled illegality."

The police have in the last one year arrested several journalists for alleged defamation, a move which has been criticised by Amnesty International and other rights groups.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

GANZY     QuickWin     Akanbi-Oke     Titus Ashaolu     Rotimi Samuel Olujide     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Sarakite     Moronfoye     Umar Bayo Abdulwahab     Abdulahi Abubakar Bata     Kumbi Titilope     Maimunat Oloriegbe     Niyi Ogundiran     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     Abubakar Atiku     Reuben Paraje     Halimat Yusuf     Ayobami Seriki     Kunbi Titiloye     Oko-Erin     Tayo Awodiji     Salman Suleiman     Yusuf Lanre Badmas     Wale Oladepo     Col. Ibrahim Taiwo     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     Kunle Akogun     Kwara Restoration Project     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Zubair Folorunsho Erubu     Olaiya Lawal     Aliyu Umar     Bibire Ajape     Sulyman Abdulkareem     Shehu Raheem Adaramaja     Taofik Abdulkareem     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Jelili Yusuf     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Principal Private Secretary     Okanlawon Musa     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Busari Toyin Isiaka     Orisun Igbomina     Abdulwaheed Musa     Rafiu Ajakaye     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Ganmo     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Ndakene     IPSAS     Ayinde Oyepitan     SUBEB     United Nigeria Airline     Abubakar Baba Sulaiman     Irepodun     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     Kannike     Simeon Sule Ajibola     Kwara State Television     Maigidasanma     Sulu Gambari     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Undergraduate Bursary     Ibrahim Gambari     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Bolaji Abdullahi     Bature Bello     Budo-Egba     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Olukotun Of Ikotun     NIPR     Ayinde Oki     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     UITH     Col. Taiwo     Saba Jibril    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kwara State Government     Ahman Patigi     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Old Oyo     TESCOM 2025     Clement Yomi Adeboye     Haliru Yahaya     Ijagbo Health Centre     Tayo Alao     AGM Professional Services     Jare Olatundun     Tuesday Assayomo     Rashidi Yekini     Mustapha Akanbi     Sheikh Ariyibi     Akume     Issa Memunat Moyosore     Baaziki Sulaiman     KWAFFA     C2c@kwarastate.gov.ng     HYPPADEC     Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan     Oluranti Idowu     Air Peace     Kayode Yusuf     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Sai Kayi     Shehu Jimoh     Igbaja     Saliu Ajia     Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Bello Abubakar     Patigi Regatta     Offa Metropolitan Club     Teachers Specific Allowance     Transition Implementation Committee     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     National Information Technology Development Agency     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa     Ahmed Alhasssan     Oyun     Yahaya Jibril Usman     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Ethical College     Salami Adekunle     Iliasu     Oba Abdulraheem     Segun Adeniyi     Okeose Christian Cementary     Voices Of Tomorrow     ER-KANG Mining     Lanre Jimoh     Ogbondoroko     Elections     Crystal Corner Shops     Okin Biscuits     Ayinde Oyepitan     Jamila Bio Ibrahim     Lawyers Unite Against Corruption     Bluenile Associates     Abatemi Usman     Ajidagba     Unilorin FM     Ibrahim Abikan     Monthly Sanitation     Sola Saraki University     Code Of Conduct     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Okoolowo     Moses Afolayan     Adekunle David Dunmade     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Abdulazeez Arowona     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     Bamidele Adegoke