DSS Arrests Delta Based Publisher Over Publication On Kachikwu
Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum[/caption]
The Nigerian media is currently at one of its most trying periods as the publisher of an Ughelli based tabloid, Ughelli Times Magazine was whisked away by the Department of State Services (DSS) to the Asaba head office of the service over an alleged libelous report against the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.
The publisher, Daniel Ekuigbo, who is also a member of the Urhobo Media Group, was according to the Vanguard newspaper arrested on Tuesday night at Ughelli by a team of DSS officials from Asaba.
Though detail of his arrest was sketchy as at the time of this report, a DSS source confirmed his arrest saying, “Yes, he is in our custody.”
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Speaking further, the source was quoted as saying: “Though I can’t give you much detail on his arrest, it is not much of an issue as we just want to confirm some things from him.
“These issues include a publication against the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu among others I can’t divulge to you now, hence he was brought in for interrogation.”
The Whistler recalls that under this regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, Abubakar Usman, was arrested for alleged cyberstalking by the EFCC; bloggers Seun Oloketuyi and Emmanuel Ojo were arrested in 2015 for offences that allegedly contravened the act.
Oloketuyi was arrested for his alleged false report on bank managers, while Ojo was detained for alleging that the wife of the Ogun state governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun was in possession of US$300,000 when she travelled to London in 2015.
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Other bloggers that have been arrested and detained include; Chris Kehinde Nwandu of CKN News; Jamil Mabai, a blogger based in the Northwestern state of Katsina, and publisher of Cliqq Magazine; Emenike Iroegbu of Abia Facts newspaper was arrested and detained on the orders of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; and Mr. Iroegbu Emenike in the south south state of Akwa Ibom.
