LEADERSHIP, the Abuja national newspaper
four of whose journalists were summoned by
the police today, are being detained on the
orders of President Goodluck Jonathan, the
newspaper has said in a statement.
As SaharaReporters reported previously, the
journalists were invited to meet with the police
in connection with a story the newspaper
published last week about a presidential
directive to muzzle political opposition, the
supporting document of which appeared in
the paper.
The statement, signed by the company’s
Group Managing Director, Azubuike
Ishiekwene, named the four journalists as
Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe; Tony Amokeodo;
Chibuzor Ukaibe; and Chuks Ohuegbe.
Mrs. Fred-Adebulugbe, the title’s Director of
Human Capital who led the group, said that
after they had given written statements to
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Peter Gana
who interviewed them, they were abruptly
told they would not be allowed to leave unless
they disclosed their source.
“We told them that it would be unethical to
disclose our source and asked them to charge
us to court, if they wanted,” she said. “They
said they wanted to have the document. We
said the bromide had been published and
wondered why they were making such a fuss,
since they said the document was a work of
fiction.”
LEADERSHIP described the latest development
as “a calculated and brazen affront” on press
freedom, and expressed consternation that a
supposedly elected government has sunk so
low.
“President Jonathan and his handlers need to
tell Nigerians and the civilised world why they
have suddenly moved from describing the
document as “fiction,” to a do-or-die obsession
with knowing the source; they need to tell
Nigerians most of who now live in mortal fear
of their personal safety and security, if
clamping down on the press has now become
a priority sport,” the statement said,
expressing resolve to hold the government to
account as enshrined in the constitution.
“We stand by our story and will neither be
cowed nor intimidated by the strong-arm
tactics of President Jonathan nor by the
puerile attempts by his spokesmen – Doyin
Okupe and Dr. Reuben Abati – to tarnish our
report,” the statement said.
Full text of the statement:
Four journalists with LEADERSHIP Newspapers
have been detained at the Force
Headquarters, Abuja, on the orders of
President Goodluck Jonathan.
The journalists, Mrs. Chinyere Fred-
Adebulugbe; Mr. Tony Amokeodo; Mr.
Chibuzor Ukaibe; and Mr. Chuks Ohuegbe, had
reported at the Force Headquarters on
Monday morning to honour an invitation by
the police.
The Director, Human Capital and former
LEADERSHIP Sunday Editor, Mrs. Fred-
Adegbulugbe, who led the journalists said,
“After the journalists finished writing
statements, DIG Peter Gana suddenly excused
himself on a call from IGP Mohammed
Abubakar.
“We were later told that we would not be
allowed to leave except if we produced the
source of the story. It was clear that this was
not the call of the police. It is from President
Goodluck Jonathan.
“We told them that it would be unethical to
disclose our source and asked them to charge
us to court, if they wanted. They said they
wanted to have the document. We said the
bromide had been published and wondered
why they were making such a fuss, since they
said the document was a work of fiction.
“The have made it clear that we would not be
released except we give them the document.
We can’t get out. I was escorted to use the
toilet after begging.”
This is a calculated and brazen affront on
press freedom; we are bereft that a
supposedly elected government will come this
low.
We demand the unconditional and immediate
release of our journalists – Mrs. Chinyere Fred-
Adebulugbe (Director, Human Capital); Chuks
Ohuegbe (Managing Editor); Tony Amokeodo
(Group News Editor); and Chibuzor Ukaibe
(Political Reporter).
President Jonathan and his handlers need to
tell Nigerians and the civilised world why they
have suddenly moved from describing the
document as “fiction,” to a do-or-die obsession
with knowing the source; they need to tell
Nigerians most of who now live in mortal fear
of their personal safety and security, if
clamping down on the press has now become
a priority sport.
On our part, we wish to restate our resolve to
continue to hold the government to account
as enshrined in Chapter 22 of the constitution
and to remain resolute in championing the
course of press freedom and the right of the
people to know.
We stand by our story and will neither be
cowed nor intimidated by the strong-arm
tactics of President Jonathan nor by the
puerile attempts by his spokesmen – Doyin
Okupe and Dr. Reuben Abati – to tarnish our
report.
Azubuike Ishiekwene
Group Managing Director
LEADERSHIP Group Limited

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[size=20]Br[/size]- indeed.

Aluta continua, victoria acerta!