FirstNews editor Segun Olatunji has regained freedom after spending about two weeks in military detention.
He was released to the General Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Iyobosa Uwugiaren and the Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) of THE NATION Newspapers, Yomi Odunuga in Abuja on Thursday, March 28.
This is coming a day after the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) urged President Bola Tinubu to use his authority as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to intervene in the case of journalist Olatunji who was forcibly taken from his home in Lagos On March 15, 2024.
“IPI is therefore calling on President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian military authorities to immediately release Mr Olatunji or charge him to court if he has committed any offence.
“The international community should also pay attention to the unjust detention of Mr. Olatunji by the Nigerian military,” the Institute said.
The Explainer had reported that the Lagos-based journalist was abducted by yet-to-be-identified gunmen and his whereabouts had remained unknown according to family members and colleagues.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, March 27, IPI Nigeria’s President Musikilu Mojeed and legal adviser Tobi Soniyi said multiple checks by the organisation revealed that Olatunji was in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), an agency under the command of Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, who, in turn, reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa.
Before the findings, the Institute said it had contacted the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Defence Headquarters, and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation seeking information on Mr Olatunji and demanding his release but “all efforts in this direction have so far failed.”
“For the past eleven days, the abducted journalist has been kept incommunicado, with his family, employers, and colleagues unaware of his whereabouts.
“That 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,” it said.
Citing the rule of law and the provisions of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, IPI said it was illegal to detain any citizen or resident beyond 48 hours, except with a valid court order.
“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.
“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.” The statement added.
