Publisher of Premium Times newspaper Dapo Olorunyomi and Judicial reporter
Evelyn Okakwu have been released by the police in Abuja.
Both were arrested Thursday afternoon in Abuja.
Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of the newspaper, was arrested alongside the
judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu, at around 5:00 p.m.
They were released on bail and instructed to report at the FCT Police
Command Headquarters by 8:00 a.m. Friday morning.
But a highly-placed police source said the invitation could be a ploy to
detain the journalists for an extended period.
The police source said there are chances that the two could be taken
before a Magistrate’s Court.
“From what I understand, if they report tomorrow morning, they will be
taken to a Magistrate’s Court and arraigned before a judge that will
readily comply with the police arrangement and grant order for them to be
detained,” the source said. “That way, they can then claim to be detaining
them legally.”
The development has sparked widespread condemnation, with the Amnesty
International promising to launch an investigation into the motive behind
it.
The journalists were arrested after several plain-clothed officers raided
PREMIUM TIMES office in Abuja.
The newspaper’s managing editor, Idris Akinbajo, hailed the “overwhelming”
support from Nigerians and readers around the world.
He said the paper would release a full statement after the journalists
meet the police Friday morning.