The Nigerian Union Of Journalists, NUJ, says the arrest and detention of an Online Publisher, David Elomba by operatives of special anti-robbery squad on New Year day has put a dent on government’s assurances of respect for the freedom of the press.
Secretary NUJ FCT council, Rafat Ibrahim in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja said the intent of the arrest in the eye of the law should be treated as civil and not a criminal matter.
Daniel Elomba, a Nigeria online news paper publisher was arrested on January one, 2018 in his home in Anambra state, south east Nigeria. The incident, allegedly carried out by SARS, a unit of the Nigeria police force, came as a huge shock to the media profession, which is looking forward to an engaging year preceding the 2019 general elections.
The journalist was arrested in connection with a publication and allegation of an attempt to commit injurious conspiracy against the authorities
The arrest of the journalist and a subsequent court order to detain him for a longer time has received hard knocks from the Nigerian union of journalists.
The body of pen pushers described the arrest as illegal and unacceptable.
Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, said the arrest in the face of the operation of the freedom of information act is a worrisome signal on the days ahead.
Confirmed sources reveal that the detained publisher was granted bail Wednesday afternoon but under stringent conditions.
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