SaharaReporters had reported how Ayodele was remanded in prison after a secret trial, orchestrated by the Nigerian police on the orders of Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku.
The publisher and Managing Editor of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper, Ayodele Samuel has been released.
SaharaReporters had reported how Ayodele was remanded in prison after a secret trial, orchestrated by the Nigerian police on the orders of Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku.
It was learnt last Monday that the Chief Executive Officer of Rock FM 92.3, Jalingo, and Publisher, Taraba Truths and Facts, was arraigned secretly by the police and remanded in prison afterwards.
The publisher was detained by the police despite meeting the bail conditions given by the court.
He was remanded for many days despite meeting his bail conditions which were the provision of N10 million naira and two sureties who must be residents of Jalingo with landed properties worth N5million naira each.
Lance Momodu, Ag. Editor of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper confirmed Ayodele’s release in a statement on Tuesday.
According to him, the journalist is currently receiving medical care at a facility due to his deteriorated health condition and trauma he had faced in the past few days.
The statement read, “We delight in announcing the release of Oloye Ayodele Samuel, publisher of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper. Oloye Ayodele Samuel was released Monday evening following a judgement of a Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State.
“Justice Usman Bala had earlier ruled that the journalist, who is also the CEO of Rock FM should be released immediately under the same bail conditions granted by the magistrate court where the case had begun.
“Ayodele is currently receiving medical care at a facility due to his deteriorated health condition and trauma he had faced in the past few days. Despite the unfortunate experience, the publisher remains resolute and courageous to keep on carrying out his duty objectively for the furtherance of the state and the nation.
“Ayodele Samuel along with his family, staff and management of Taraba Truth and Facts and Rock FM Jalingo also use this medium to thank all those who sympathized, advocated and contributed one way or the other to his release, all media organisations, senior journalists and right groups that spoke against his unlawful arrest. Thank you.”
Before his arrest and detention, Samuel raised the alarm over alleged threats to his life by agents of the state government.
In November, Samuel told SaharaReporters that agents of the state government led by the Aide De Camp to Governor Ishaku had been making efforts to kill him.
He said he had it on good authority that the state government through the Attorney General had concluded plans with a Magistrate Court in Jalingo to remand him in prison and give stringent bail conditions that would be hard for him to meet.
He had said, “While it appears that the government is trying to unjustly repress me through the legal framework through a petition to the police to investigate some reports published by the Taraba Truth and Facts Newspapers with regards to the privatization of the Mambilla Beverages Company and the College of Nursing, Jalingo, its agent are also simultaneously trying to eliminate me, giving me no room to be vindicated.
“Some of the publications that are said to have angered the government were published on Taraba Truth and Facts, as well as several notable media organizations in the country. Rather than give their side of the story, they have chosen to specifically go after Taraba Truth and Facts and my individual self.
“I also want to bring to your notice that the ADC and some top government officials are victimising me on the grounds that I’m not an indigene of Taraba State and lack standards to publish a newspaper in the state. It's a common statement within those corridors of power in Taraba State that 'I should return to my fatherland.’ An aide to Governor Ishaku once wrote this.
“I strongly believe I need to be alive to defend myself from any allegations levelled against me, the state owes a duty to protect me. I’m however not confident of my safety in Taraba State any longer.”