The Managing Editor (Northern Operations) of the Nation Newspapers, Mr. Yusfu Alli, was yesterday released by Police after he was detained for over 48 hours.
Alli was arrested Tuesday alongside the Abuja Bureau Chief, Mr. Yomi Odunuga, as well as Deputy Editor, Lawal Ogienagbo, and four others who were picked up in Lagos.
Their arrest followed the refusal of the media outfit to disclose the source of the letter reportedly written by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Odunuga and Ogienagbon were released Wednesday after being interrogated by the Commissioner of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID) at the Force Headquarters.
However, Alli who was denied bail on the grounds that he would be charged to a magistrate court yesterday was released to the Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abuja Council, Mr. Jacob Edi, at about 2pm.
A statement from the office of the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, had claimed that Alli was at the centre of a complaint by an undisclosed person against members of a particular media.
The statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Olusola Amore, indicated that seven members of the daily newspaper complained against were arrested and interrogated.
Part of the statement reads, “However one of the arrested staff found to be at the centre of the complaint is still assisting the Police in their investigations, while the remaining six have been released.
“The IGP wishes to state clearly that the complaint emanates from an aggrieved individual who under the Nigerian Constitution has a right to lay complaint to the Nigeria Police.
“Due to the perceived public interest in the matter, members of the public will be briefed from time to time on this criminal investigation.”
Speaking to journalists, Alli said his release followed the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan and other well meaning Nigerians.
He, however, condemned the statement accredited to Obasanjo that editors of the Nation Newspaper were insane
He pointed out that the former President has had cause to use the newspaper and other media in the country to set agenda.
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mallam Mohammed Garuba, who was at the Force CID said Ali’s release is an indication that the President Jonathan-led administration believed in the due process.
He said, “As the President of West African Journalists International Organization, I always emphasized that the situation of press freedom here is fair when compared to what we have in other Africa countries.
“I must commend President Jonathan and all those who have intervened especially the members of the National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi in particular who was there and other Senators and members of the House of Representatives who also showed interest.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday joined other Nigerians in condemning Wednesday’s arrest and detention of the editors of The Nation Newspapers on the orders of the IGP.
The lawmakers, who were unanimous in their condemnation, described the action as “returning Nigeria to the days of despotic military rule. ?
While raising the motion on the floor of the House, the Chairman of Media and Public Affairs Committee, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, referred to Order 8, Rule 46, saying the action was a dangerous threat to democracy.
He said unless the House took a major step to address the matter, the police would take the country back to the days of ‘jackboots,’ where the rights of Nigerians were trampled upon with impunity.
He continued, “In this hallowed chamber, we passed the FOI Act. If we pass a law, we should stand by it. Those that were arrested were not armed but were merely earning a living with their pens.
“If we allow this action by security agencies to go unchallenged, the next thing may be that lawmakers will be arrested for making certain contributions on the floor of this House.”
A journalist, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, called on the House to treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves.
She said, “What happened should not be taken for granted. It is The Nation Newspapers today, it may be anybody tomorrow.”
Subsequently, the House mandated its committees on Justice, Police Affairs, Human Rights and Media and Publicity to investigate the issue and report within a week.