Police Arrest Reportera Publisher Following Petition Fashola

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has officially confirmed the arrest of entrepreneur Chike Ibezim, following a petition filed by former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola.

The incident, which occurred on August 10, took place in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.

The arrest stemmed from a petition submitted by Fashola, who raised concerns about a report published by Reportera, a news platform founded by Nnamdi Ibezim, the elder brother of Chike.

In August, Reportera published a report alleging that Fashola was involved in drafting the presidential election tribunal verdict to be delivered by judges.

Fashola vehemently denied the claim and subsequently petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, characterizing the report as defamatory. Freedom Square previously reported on Fashola’s petition against these publishers of the allegations.

Upon Chike’s arrest and detention, his brother accused the police of carrying out an “arrest by proxy.” However, the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, issued a statement clarifying the situation. According to Adejobi, Chike’s detention was “based on a court order” and was related to alleged “malicious publication, cyber-bullying, and other related offences.”

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Adejobi emphasized that Chike’s detention followed legal procedures and respected individual rights. He noted that the arrest was conducted in strict adherence to established legal protocols and highlighted that Chike was actively assisting the police in their ongoing investigation.

The statement reaffirmed that Chike Ibezim was in lawful custody based on a court order, and the police were continuing their investigation into the allegations brought against him.

This development underscores the importance of adhering to legal processes in addressing allegations of defamation and cybercrimes, emphasizing due process and respect for individual rights in such cases.