IPI, IPC Decry Detention, Harassment Of Wikki Times Publisher, Reporter
…Demand withdrawal of vexatious charges
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria and the International Press Center (IPC) have decried the arrest, detention, torture and subsequent arraignment before a magistrate Court in Bauchi of the publisher and reporter of WikkiTimes online newspaper, Mr. Haruna Mohammed and Idris Kamal respectively by the police command in Bauchi State.
IPI Nigeria, in a statement by its Secretary, Mr. Ahmed Shekarau, said that the two journalists claimed that they were physically assaulted while in detention.
The IPI Nigeria noted that the offences of criminal conspiracy, defamation of character and cyber stalking with which the journalists were charged are not only unfortunate, but also showed that the police are using bogus crimes with which to continue the harassment and intimidation of the journalists.
This was just as the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria expressed grave concern over the trend of events and called on the Police Command in Bauchi to avoid being used as tools of harassment against the journalists.
It stressed that since the petitioner alleged defamation, the Police should have in the first instance advised him to seek legal redress instead of illegally detaining the journalists for 10 hours on Monday, June 27, 2022 and subjecting them to physical and mental harassment in the process.
On its own part, the IPI Nigeria Secretary, Shekarau, condemned the practice of using the police by civilians to harass and intimidate journalists, stressing that anyone who is aggrieved by any news item published by WikkiTimes should seek redress in court instead of using the police or other security agents to harass the journalists.
The body specifically noted that Nigeria’s legal system has made adequate provisions for protection of reputation and therefore demanded the withdrawal and discontinuation of the vexatious charges filed against the two journalists with immediate effect.
Accordingly, the IPI called on the Inspector General of Police to call the Bauchi State police command to order.
In its own statement, the Executive Director, IPC, Lagos-Nigeria, Mr. Lanre Arogundade condemned in strong terms the harassment and molestation of the two journalists by the Police in Bauchi State.
The IPC statement signed by its Communication Officer, Toyin Ayoade, noted that the ordeal of Haruna Mohammed and Idris Kamal began on Monday, June 27, 2022, when they honoured an invitation from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID).
It further stated; “The invitation followed a petition by Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi, a member of the House of Representatives representing Bauchi Federal Constituency concerning a Wikki Times report of May 18, 2022 on the sudden death of the late Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bauchi Local Government Area.
“The Journalists arrived the station at about 10:00am on Monday but after making a statement, they were clamped into a cell where they alleged that they were physically assaulted.
“Despite the presence of their Lawyer at the Police Station, they were not set free until about 10 hours later and asked to report back on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 for further interrogations.
“The two journalists again reported at the SCIID Bauchi on Tuesday as directed but were promptly taken before a Bauchi Magistrate Court where they were charged for criminal conspiracy, defamation of character and cyber stalking,” it said.
The IPC said that it now behoves on the Police authorities in the State to ensure the safety of Mohammed and Kamal, stressing that Journalists should not continue to be treated as endangered species in Nigeria.
The IPC particularly said that in all circumstances the security agencies must always strive to toe the path of the rule of law in handling complaints or petitions against journalists and other media professionals, just as they should normally do for all citizens.
