The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Commissioner, Ben Igweh, has assured that the detained reporter with Foundation for Investigative Journalism,FIJ, Daniel Ojukwu would soon be released from detention.
The commissioner disclosed this while addressing protesters at the entrance of the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
He noted that the Force Management Team has looked into Ojukwu’s matter
and resolved that he be released.
Igweh however, warned journalists to be wary of what they write and say so as not to fall into the wrong arm of the law.
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He maintained that journalists who commit ‘strong’ offence would be arrested and prosecuted like any other citizen of the country.
In his words, “Every Nigerian citizen has his fundamental human rights, including journalists. But the fact that somebody is a journalist does not exempt him from being questioned for offence committed.
” If you are a journalist and you commit strong offence, we will arrest you and we will prosecute you like every other citizen.
“The fact that you are a journalist and you commit an offence does not mean you will not be arrested and you will not be prosecuted. This one, we have looked into the matter and there is no need for this protest.
“The Force Management Team has taken a lot of things into consideration to release him.
“He will be released soon. I’m giving you assurance”, he added.
Igweh, however, was evasive of the date for the release of the detained journalist.
The protesters, who had displayed placards with various inscriptions, condemned Ojukwu’s continued detention since May 1 on an obscure account that he breached Nigeria’s cybercrime law. #police
