NUJ Demands Publisher’s Release From Police Detention, Rejects ‘Attempt To Stifle Press Freedom’

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, has asked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to order the immediate release of Mr. Tom Oga Uhia, publisher of Power Steering magazine, from police detention.

The NUJ regretted that despite the ongoing protests against human rights abuse by police, Uhia could still be arrested and detained beyond 72 hours without being charged to court.

Speaking through its Chairman and Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche and Ochiaka Ugwu, respectively, the union alleged that the publisher was arrested on Wednesday night “in a Gestapo manner” by security agents acting on the instructions of the Minister of State for Power, Godwin Jeddy Agba.

The minister was said to have ordered the publisher’s arrest for allegedly defaming him.

The NUJ, which described Uhia’s arrest as abuse of power, challenged Agba to seek judicial remedy through the courts if indeed he has a case against the publisher.

“It is obvious that recent events are not enough lessons to officials in power that there is always a day of reckoning. If the Minister of State, Power, Mr. Godwin Jeddy Agba feels strongly that he has suffered libel or defamation, what he ought to do is to seek legal remedy through the courts rather than using the police to arrest and detain Mr. Tom Oga Uhia, publisher of Power Steering Magazine for over 72 hours now without being charged to court,” the statement said.

“The NUJ FCT is not unaware of serious security challenges facing the country and urges the Inspector General of Police to channel valuable time and energy in confronting these issues including the growing nationwide protests against police harassment, brutality and impunity rather than arresting and detaining a journalist without being charged to court after 72 hours.

“We call on the IGP to unconditionally release Mr. Uhia and advice Mr. Jeddy Agba to follow the due process of the law if he is persuaded, he has any case.

“The NUJ will resist any and all attempts to stifle press freedom and gag journalists in the performance of their constitutional guaranteed role of holding government and its officials accountable to the people,” the statement added.

The union added that no amount of intimidate would deter its members from holding government officials accountable.