The Coalition of Journalists of Conscience (CJC) has called for the immediate release of its member, Oloye Ayodele Samuel, who was arrested and detained over a report alleging plans to sell Taraba State-owned Mambilla Beverages Company.
The CJC, in a statement issued on Thursday by its General Secretary, Akinwale Kasali, caller on the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, and the state commissioner of police to honour the court ruling and free Samuel.
The group said Samuel, who is the publisher of Taraba Truth and Facts and CEO of Rock FM 92.3, Jalingo in Taraba State, said the journalist was illegally remanded at the Taraba State Police Command despite Meeting bail conditions on Tuesday.
It said: “Ayodele Samuel was arraigned at a magistrate court in Jalingo, presided by his lordship, Garba S. Garba on a two count charge of defamation and injurious falsehood.
“The charges were filed against him by the Governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku, through the office of the Attorney General of the state.
“It comes as a reaction from nurtured grievance over a publication on page 5 of the Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper, dated September 17, 2022 with the title ‘Taraba for Sale’.
“The publication alleges a possible sale of the Taraba state-owned Mambilla Beverages Company and state properties, including the liaison office in Abuja in which similar publications had appeared on other prominent Nigerian media prior to the publication on Taraba Truth and Facts without rebuttal.”
The CJC stated that Samuel had at the court pleaded not guilty to the charges, noting that his counsel applied for bail, “which the magistrate had described as ordinary bailable cases”.
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“The bail conditions were ten million naira fee, two sureties resident in Jalingo having landed properties worth five million naira each.
“There were about 12 persons willing to surety instantly, including two pastors but only two would have to help fulfill the bail conditions.
“Subsequently, the bail conditions were met but it is quite unclear how the publisher has been remanded, but what is certain is the treacherous abuse of power by the state government.
“Now, the Magistrate Court Registrar is saying the case file has being transferred to the State High Court, which obviously is a plan to frustrate the bail process and remand the innocent media entrepreneur further at the custody of the Taraba State Police Command long enough to satisfy Governor Ishaku’s thirst for oppression.
“Our investigation revealed that the State High Court intend to foot-drag the hearing of Ayodele’s case and keep him in detention even beyond December.
“We are calling on the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to wade in to forestall this daylight attack on press freedom and of course the right of every Nigerian to live and do business legally anywhere in the country.
“Prior to the arraignment Ayodele Samuel had honoured two police invitations over separate petitions from the Taraba state government and has conducted himself with regard for law. Thereafter Mr. Ayodele had raised alarms that government agents have tapped his call lines and are tracking his movements.
“Sources have claimed that Governor Ishaku has not been able to reconcile with the reality of someone from a different region of the country having significant impact over the media in the state.
“It has also been heard that on some occasion the governor spoke of the publisher with disdain, even at the state house of assembly when he ought to be defending the state 2023 budget.
“Accusing and maltreating someone who should have been recognised and honoured as a pacesetter for establishing the first private radio station amidst his numerous achievements in Taraba State is shameful and we are calling on the government and its agents have a rethink and obey the court verdict,” the group said.
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