International Press Institute seeks withdrawal of charges against Journalists
The International Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria has condemned the arrest and prosecution of two journalists, Haruna Mohammed and Idris Kamal.
The police arrested and arraigned Mr Mohammed, the publisher of Wikki Times, a local newspaper in Bauchi, North West Nigeria and his reporter, Mr Kamal, before a magistrate court for alleged criminal conspiracy, defamation of character and cyber stalking.
The newspaper had published a story claiming that Yakubu Abdullahi, the member of the House of Representatives representing Bauchi Central Constituency, had allegedly made a series of threats to Hussaini Musa Gwaba, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of Bauchi Local Government, who was found dead in his hotel room after he and other executives of the local government chapter of the party were sworn in.
The newspaper claimed that Mr Abdullahi was opposed to the emergence of Mr Gwaba as the chairman of the local chapter of the party. It added that Mr Abdullahi considers Mr Gwaba to be a threat to his political ambition.
In a statement, the IPI Nigeria Secretary, Ahmed I. Shekarau, condemned the arrest, detention and the subsequent arraignment of the journalists.
He condemned the actions of the police as the journalists had claimed that they were physically assaulted while they were in detention.
“Anyone who is aggrieved by any news item published by WikkiTimes should seek redress in court instead of using the police or other security agents to harass the journalists,” Mr Shekarau advised.
The IPI urged the Inspector-General of Police to call the police command in Bauchi to order and demanded “the immediate withdrawal and discontinuation of the vexatious charges filed against the two journalists.”
Mr Shekarau said the charges against the journalists are bogus crimes often used to intimidate journalists.
The body also called on the Inspector General of Police to call the Bauchi State police command to order.
He further stated that the police must ensure that the journalists are safe in the course of discharging their duties.
Ime N
