Dare Akogun is a journalist with Sobi FM station.
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned Thursday’s arrest and detention of Kwara-based broadcast journalist, Mr. Dare Akogun and his brother, Abdulrasheed by the police.
Dare Akogun is a journalist with Sobi FM station.
The Kwara State Police Command arrested the Akoguns in an effort to coerce them to retract an allegation of corruption reportedly made against an official of the state government.
In a statement issued in Lagos by its Director of Programmes, Mr. Ayode Longe, on Friday, MRA called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, to put an end to the incessant practice whereby politicians, government officials and other powerful individuals use the police to shield themselves from scrutiny or criticism and to harass or intimidate journalists and media organisations reporting on their activities.
The Akoguns were invited by the police by a letter dated October 7, 2022, which was delivered to them on October 12, 2022, to meet with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the Criminal Investigation Department of the police state command, Mr. Steve Yabanet, by 11 am on October 13, 2022.
The letter claimed that the office was investigating cases of inciting disturbance, injurious falsehood and criminal defamation against them but said the invitation for him to report at the office was “just a fact-finding invitation.”
However, when the Akoguns honoured the invitation on October 13, they were asked by the Deputy Police Commissioner to write a letter of apology to the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, who had petitioned the state police command, asking it to investigate and prosecute Mr. Abdulrasheed Akogun and Mr. Dare Akogun for alleged criminal defamation against him.
The spokesman for the governor had claimed in the petition that the two men committed the offence via their WhatsApp posts on September 30, 2022 in which they accused him of facilitating the use of over N15 million in public funds to prosecute the last chairmanship election of the State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Without ascertaining the veracity or otherwise of the report, when Mr. Akogun arrived at the station, accompanied by his lawyer, Mr. Taiwo Olaitan, the Deputy Police Commissioner asked him to write the letter of apology to the Chief Press Secretary. The Akoguns, however, declined on the ground that it would amount to admitting to the charge of injurious falsehood and criminal defamation, whereupon the Deputy Police Commissioner ordered that he should be detained.
Describing the action of the Deputy Police Commissioner as unlawful, an abuse of power and an abuse of his office, Mr. Longe said: It is embarrassing that the police now consider it that it is their primary function to protect the reputation of political office holders, politicians and other powerful individuals and misusing their coercive powers to play this role.
“The Inspector-General of Police should immediately call his officers to order and advise them to desist from making themselves tools in the hands of the rich and powerful.”
He called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Akogun, warning that if this was not done within 24 hours, MRA would take legal action to protect and enforce his fundamental rights and seek substantial damages for the oppressive violation of his rights.
The brothers were arrested over some WhatsApp engagements indicting Ajakaye.
It was gathered that Akogun and his brother made some comments on a WhatsApp Platform, “Kwara Commission”, claiming the CPS to the governor facilitated the sum of N15 million to some candidates in the recent NUJ elections to influence the outcome.
This claim was described as untrue and a way of spreading fake news, according to the Governor's Press Secretary.
Hence, the police invited Akogun and his brother after receiving a petition from Ajakaye.
This was seen in letter sent to Sobi FM which reads: "This office is investigating cases of inciting Disturbance, injurious Falsehood and Criminal Defamation alleged against one of your staff DARE AKOGUN.
"You are kindly requested to release him to have an Audience with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force, Ilorin, Kwara State through the OC Legal of the Command on Thursday 13/10/2022 by 11: 00 hours.
"It is just a fact finding invitation and your co - operation in this regard will be highly appreciated. Accept the assurances of our best regards, please.”
However, after Akogun and his brother honoured the invitation, the police failed to release them and they were detained without a justifiable cause.
