It was learnt that Eze’s arrest was due to a complaint made by a businessman and politician, Chris Odinaka Igwe, against the journalist.
The Partnership for Media and Democracy (PAMED), a media-focused civil society, has demanded the immediate release of Precious Eze, a journalist and publisher of the online newspaper “News Platform” who has been detained by the police for nearly two weeks.
According to a press statement issued by the group on Thursday, the journalist was arrested by men of the Nigerian Police Force from Zone 2 Command at his Gbagada, Lagos residence on Monday, May 27, 2024 and has since remained in police custody.
It was learnt that Eze’s arrest was due to a complaint made by a businessman and politician, Chris Odinaka Igwe, against the journalist.
PAMED in a statement described Eze’s incarceration as unconstitutional being a violation of Subsection 5 of Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states that “(a) in the case of an arrest or detention in any place where there is a court of competent jurisdiction within a radius of forty kilometres, a period of one day; and (b) in any other case, a period of two days or such longer period as in the circumstances may be considered by the court to be reasonable.”
The civil society added that Section 61 (1) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 agrees with the provisions of the constitution by stating that a suspect arrested without a court warrant, other than a capital offence, should be granted bail, where it is impracticable to charge to court without 24 hours.
PAMED, comprising of the International Press Centre (IPC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), said the arrest and detention of Precious Eze adds to the unwelcome spate of intimidation of journalists and attacks on press freedom in recent times.
“Following his arrest, Precious Eze was in detention for nearly one week before his colleagues learned of his arrest and attempted to secure his release on bail, but to no avail. He was later arraigned on Thursday, May 30, before the Ebute Meta Magistrate Court to secure a remand order by the police which resulted in a judicial rebuke of the police’s actions. The magistrate struck out the case, deeming it without merit and affirming that Eze had no case to answer. This should have led to Eze’s immediate release. Instead, he was returned to custody and rearraigned before another magistrate on Friday, May 31, with the case adjourned to a future date in June. He has been in detention for over two weeks,” his colleague Seunmanuel Faleye and General Secretary of Digital Newspapers Owners of Nigeria explained.
PAMED, therefore, demands immediate freedom for Precious Eze and a halt to persistent assault on press freedom in Nigeria.
“Individuals and organisations should stop the recourse to self-help whenever they feel aggrieved about news reports. Such persons or groups are reminded that they can approach the Courts for redress or seek the intervention of media regulatory bodies like the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) over perceived ethical and professional breaches.
“The international community, press freedom advocates, and civil society organisations should not relent in demanding for press freedom and the right of freedom of expression in Nigeria.”