On March 15, journalist Segun Olatunji from the online newspaper The First News was arrested at his home by two members of the Nigerian Army. No official charges or information about his location were disclosed at the time of his arrest.
The arrest was reported to have been linked to an article published by the media outlet accusing an official from the Nigeria Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) of nepotism. After significant pressure from the press and local defence groups, DIA officials eventually acknowledged having the journalist in their custody and he was eventually released.
The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute revealed in a press statement that, personnel of the Defence Intelligence Agency were responsible for the abduction of FirstNews editor, Segun Olatunji, officials of the Nigerian military have admitted they have the missing journalist in their custody.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, quoted top military officers as admitting their men seized the editor, after twelve days of denial. Mr Idris disclosed this to officials of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the International Press Institute on Wednesday.
He said the Defence Intelligence Agency had now committed to releasing the journalist on Thursday.
IPI Nigeria had earlier on Wednesday called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, an army general, to immediately produce the abducted journalist or charge him to court if he has committed any offence.
“The rule of law demands that an accused person is allowed to defend himself in a court of law within a reasonable time,” the IPI said in a statement, jointly signed by Mr Mojeed and and the institute’s Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi.
This also conforms with the provisions of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which forbids the detention of any citizen or resident beyond 48 hours, except with a valid court order.”
The IPI Nigeria said multiple checks revealed that Mr Olatunji is in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), an agency that reports directly to the Chief of Defence Staff.
“As a matter of urgency, the military should tell the world why Mr. Olatunji was arrested, where he is being kept, and why he has not been charged in court,” it said.
The IPI Nigeria noted that Mr Olatunji’s abduction has triggered speculations among journalists and human rights activists around the world that the Nigerian military may be keeping some vital information away from the public concerning the journalist’s safety.
“The international community should also pay attention to the unjust detention of Mr. Olatunji by the Nigerian military,” the statement added.
“IPI Nigeria is reminding the Nigerian authorities that when it comes to upholding human rights, Nigeria continues to rank low in the comity of nations. Keeping a citizen beyond the period allowed by the Constitution will only worsen Nigeria’s standing in the International community. The time to act is now.”
He was released on Thursday, March 28th amidst the media pressure from local and international media attention with conditions to provide a credible surety and be officially sued to court for defamation.
Mr. Olatunji was released and present at a World Press Briefing organised in conjunction with the Nigerian Media Guild of Editors, Union of Journalists and the International Press Institute Nigeria.
