Mr Ediri Oyibo, the Editor of TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) and a reporter of the media platform, Mr Paul Utebor have regained their freedom from police detention in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital territory (FCT).
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Oyibo and Mr Utebor regained their freedom after spending 6 days in detention at the Zone 7 Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Oyibo and Utebor regained their freedom after they were granted bail by an FCT Magistrates’ court, located in Zone 6, Wuse on February 28, 2023, after six days in detention.
The journalists were arraigned on three counts of criminal conspiracy, defamation of character and intimidation, to which they pleaded not guilty.
Oyibo and Utebor had on February 22, 2023 honoured an invitation by the police, following a petition by one Adaobi Jennifer Alagwu.
Adaobi in her petition alleged Mr Paul published a story, said to be defamatory, on the paternity of her child. But the journalists insisted such a story was never published on their platform.
Oyibo and Utebor were quizzed and assisted the police with their investigation but they were subsequently detained after they were made to write statements without their lawyers.
Both journalists were denied administrative bail despite meeting the conditions when they were asked to provide a public servant not less than level 14 as surety.
The journalists were detained under degrading conditions and after the court granted them bail, they were immediately taken for medical care due to their deteriorated health condition and the trauma they were subjected to while in detention.
Earlier, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council had condemned and described the detention of Oyibo and Utebor as unwarranted, absurd and unacceptable.
TNG reports the case was adjourned to 10 April 2023 for hearing.
Meanwhile, the journalists have refused to address the press after they were granted bail by the court.