The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre(NPF_NCCC) have released the publisher of the International Center for Investigative Journalism (ICIR) Dayo Aiyetan and reporter, Nurudeen Akewushola, according to lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju.
In a Facebook post on late Tuesday night, Deji Adeyanju wrote, ”After 9hrs at the Police with journalists of @TheICIR, we have just successfully secured their release. Thank you Nigerians for supporting press freedom.”
Confirming the release on Facebook, ICIR said ”Our Executive Director of The International Centre for Investigative (ICIR), Dayo Aiyetan and our reporter Nurudeen Akewushola of The (ICIR) were released and left the Nigeria Police Force Cybercrime Centre at 9:15 tonight.
”The reporter was released on bail to the International Press Institute (IPI) President, Mojeed Muskilu after 9 hours of honouring the police invitation.
”We are thankful for the support and concern we have received.
Earlier, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre(NPF_NCCC) refused to allow a reporter and the executive director of the International Centre for Investigative Journalism (ICIR) to leave after honouring their invitation.
Around 6pm on Tuesday, a post on X by ICIR stated that It’s 6 hours since it’s Executive Director, Dayo Aiyetan (@dayoaiyetan), and reporter, Nurudeen Akewushola (@NurudeenAkewus1), honored the invitation of the Police Cybercrime Centre (@NPF_NCCC), and they have not been allowed to leave.
Recall that the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, few weeks ago, expressed concerns over an invitation letter addressed to one of its journalists, Nurudeen Akewushola, and the organisation’s “managing directors” by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre.
The organisation said the letter from the police, which it received on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, was dated April 16, 2024, and the journalist was expected to report to the cybercrime centre on April 24, 2024, about three weeks before the organisation got the letter.
According to the ICIR, the police said they were investigating a case of cyberstalking and defamation of character in which the journalist “featured prominently.”
The organisation said the invitation lacked details, urging the police to rewrite its letter and provide adequate details.
It also raised the alarm about “the growing trend of the crackdown on journalists by security operatives using the Cybercrimes Act, despite a recent amendment to the legislation following public outcry that it was being manipulated to stifle free speech and harass journalists.”
According to ICIR, the police invitation to the journalist read: “You are requested to interview the Director of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) plot 625 Mission Road, Diplomatic Zone, Central Business District, Abuja through CSP Omaka Udodinma Chukwu on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Call 08067854241 on your arrival. Your cooperation in this regard will be highly appreciated, please.”
Few days after this alarm by ICIR, Police Service Commission boss, Dr Solomon Arase dragged a journalist of the International Center for Investigative Journalism (ICIR), Nurudeen Akewushola over alleged defamation.
In a statement by Ikechukwu Ani,
Police Service Commission Head, Press and Public Relations, Arase also sued an ICIR editor, Victoria Bamas and it’s executive director, Dayo Aiyetan.
The statement reads, “the attention of the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, retired Inspector General of Police has been drawn to reports in the media that the Nigeria Police Force has invited one Mr. Nurudeen Akewushola, a staff of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) over his published defamatory reports against the person of the PSC Chairman.
“The invitation was allegedly at the instance of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC).
“It is instructive to
state that Dr. Arase had instructed his solicitors immediately his attention was drawn to the publication to act on his behalf. His solicitors in a letter dated 23rd February 2024 to Mr. Nurudeen Akewushola, Victoria Bamas and Mr. Dayo Aiyetan, the writer, editor and Executive Director respectively, all of ICIR and copies of the letters delivered to them and to the Chairman, Secretary and Members of the Board of Trustees of the company.
“In the letters, the Solicitors complained of the words written of and concerning Dr.Arase as being without justification and devoid of truth as the words were calculated to bring him to contempt, ridicule and odium. Accordingly, the solicitors demanded inter alia, for immediate retraction of the said defamatory publication within a timeline, failure of which the Solicitors notified the recipients of those letters that Dr. Arase would seek redress in court.
