Dayo Aiyetan, the Executive Director of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), and its reporter, Nurudeen Yahaya Akewushola, have been detained by the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCC) after responding to an invitation on Tuesday, May 28.
The ICIR expressed concerns about their prolonged detention, stating that they, along with their legal representatives, have been unreachable since their arrival at the centre in Abuja at 12pm.
The organisation suspects that the police may have ulterior motives behind the detention of Aiyetan and Akewushola.
The ICIR, earlier on Tuesday reported that both journalists would honour the police invitation having received a letter from the Cybercrime Centre.
In its invitation, the Police claimed it is probing a case of cyberstalking and defamation of character based on a petition received by the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigative Department, but provided no details.
Ealier, on May 15, The ICIR received a letter from the Cybercrime Centre inviting its managers and Akewushola to appear before it on April 24. The letter written dated April 16 was not delivered to. The ICIR, until three weeks later long after it was supposed to have honoured the invitation.
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Responding, The ICIR raised some concerns over the invitation, including the disparity in invitation and delivery dates, and the lack of details of the petition which led to investigations for cyberstalking and defamation of character.
The organisation requested that more details of the petition be provided so that it could adequately prepare for the police interview.
In a second letter from the NPF-NCCC dated May 20, 2024, two copies of which were addressed separately to the reporter and the “managing director,” the discrepancy in the dates was adjusted but details of the allegations against the centre and its reporter were not provided.
“The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre is investigating a case of cyberstalking and defamation of character reported to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Area 10 Abuja, in which your presence is needed.
“In view of the above, you are kindly requested to interview the Director, Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCC) Plot 625 Mission Road, Diplomatic Zone Central Business District, Abuja, through CSP Omaka Udodinma Chukwu on Monday 27 May, 2024 by 10:00hrs. It is a fact-finding invitation,” the letter read in part.
However, the date and time of the meeting were eventually changed to noon on May 28, following a conversation between The ICIR lawyers and the police.
Despite honouring the invitation, The ICIR’s boss and the reporter, alongside the company’s lawyers, have not been released as of 8:50pm Tuesday when filing this report.
“Today, at the stipulated time, The ICIR staff and lawyers went to the address stated in the NPF-NCC letters and it’s been over seven hours since they’ve been held in custody.
“The ICIR expressed concern that its reporter and manager were invited by the police on allegations of cyberstalking in spite of the amendments to the Cybercrime Act in February 2024,” the ICIR said in a statement.
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