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May 23, 2024
The police did not tell his wife about his offence or show any warrant of arrest from a court, it was learnt.
The International Press Centre’s (IPC) Centre for the Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ), has demanded the immediate release of the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper (Online), Madu Onuorah, who was arrested by men of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Onuorah was whisked away by the police officers from his residence in Lugbe, Abuja in the presence of his children and wife at about 6pm on Wednesday.
The police did not tell his wife about his offence or show any warrant of arrest from a court, it was learnt.
Onuorah was not also allowed to contact his lawyer or any of his relations before he was whisked away to the Lugbe police station.
Reacting to Onuorah’s arrest, IPC’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, in a statement issued by the organisation’s Press Freedom Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, said, “The media once again is under attack. The rate at which journalists and media practitioners are being arrested is alarming and should be of serious concern to all.
“Anybody who has an issue against Madu Onuorah should approach the court of justice and not use the Police to unlawfully infringe his fundamental rights.”
The statement added, “I-CSPJ calls on the Inspector General of Police to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Madu Onuorah, who at the time of drafting this statement has not been released or charged to court.
“I-CSPJ also calls on other national, regional and international media freedom groups, freedom of expression organisations and human rights bodies to join in the clamour for a free press in Nigeria.”