Nigerian authorities should drop the charges against a publisher who has been held in police
custody since Tuesday, on accusations of defaming a state governor, the Committee to
Protect Journalists said today.
Police on Tuesday detained Oga Tom Uhia, publisher of the monthly independent Power
Steering magazine, Alexander Oketa, his lawyer, told CPJ. Uhia was charged in a lower
court on Wednesday with five counts of criminal conspiracy, injurious falsehood, and
defamation of character, the lawyer said. The prosecution cited a complaint by Gabriel
Suswam, governor of Benue State, according to court documents.
Oketa told CPJ that police kept Uhia in custody, despite the publisher meeting bail conditions
of 2 million naira and a surety. If convicted, Uhia could face up to two years in jail and/or a
fine. His trial date is scheduled for September 1.
Suswam's complaint stemmed from a June issue of Power Steering that republished the
magazine's September 2010 article that questioned whether Suswam was a lawyer. The story
alleged that Suswam used a forged academic certificate to gain admission into schools for
graduate and post-graduate degrees. The magazine said its investigation was based
on published documents and the confession of an individual who said he procured forged
documents for Suswam. Suswam has denied the allegations, according to news reports.
In 2010, the police filed similar charges against the magazine, its editor-in-chief, the
individual who said he procured the forged documents, and another individual.That case was
quashed after a judicial panel indicted the magistrate of the case of "unethical" conduct in
favor of Suswam, according to court documents.
Oketa told CPJ police continued to persecute Uhia despite an April 2014 ruling by a High
Court that restricted the police from "entertaining any charge or application pertaining,
concerning and relating to the facts" of the case filed in 2010.
"The wrongdoing in this case would appear to be on the part of the police who are flouting
the ruling of the High Court," said Peter Nkanga, CPJ's West Africa consultant. "We call on
authorities to withdraw all charges against Oga Tom Uhia and release him immediately."
Cletus Akwaya, a spokesman for Suswam, did not respond to CPJ's calls and text messages.
In a phone call with CPJ, police spokesman Abayomi Shogunle declined to comment.

If this story as posted by anago1000 aka omo sango,aka baba elekpe is true then suswan's action is codemnable.Tinubu also used forged certificate to govern Lagos state.

The late Gani Fawehinmi was poised to pursue the matter to it's conclusive conclusion before he was placated by his kinsmen.

Tinubu would have gone the way of the impeached former speaker of the house of reps. Salisu Buhari.Salisu was found guilty of certificate and age falsification.

Today,Tinubu's state of origin is still controversial.Is he from Lagos or Osun? Abeg make una help me answer this question.Thank you.

I wonder why this case should be pending since 2010.