Nigeria: Journalist arrested, tortured and charged with publishing false information

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________

ACTION ALERT - NIGERIA

7 July 2004

Journalist arrested, tortured and charged with publishing false information

SOURCE: Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Lagos

(MRA/IFEX) - On 4 July 2004, Kola Oyelere, the Kano State correspondent for the
privately-owned "Nigerian Tribune" newspaper, was arrested by police in Kano
State, northwestern Nigeria. He was detained, reportedly tortured and
subsequently charged with publishing false information by a Kano Chief
Magistrate Court on 5 July.

Oyelere was charged with publishing false information in contravention of
Sections 74, 114, 139, 140, 392 and 397 of the Penal Code following the
publication of a lead story in the 4 July "Sunday Tribune" titled, "Panic in
Kano . as Fresh Crisis Looms", which he co-authored with the newspaper's Abuja
correspondent, Bankole Makinde. He had earlier been declared wanted by police on
4 July, before his arrest.

At the court, the presiding magistrate, Ibrahim Umar Fagga, adjourned further
proceedings in the case to 29 July, after listening to the police prosecutor and
Oyelere.

Oyelere was able to speak briefly with reporters at the court premises, before
he was taken away by police after the proceedings. He said he was beaten and
prevented from taking his medication for typhoid fever.

Oyelere said, "They refused to allow me to eat any food or (drink) water since
Sunday afternoon when I was detained at the state CID cell. I was subjected to
all sorts of torture during interrogation. In fact they did not allow me even to
take my typhoid drugs."

Police Officer Rufai Inusa told the journalists that Oyelere was arrested on
orders of the state police commissioner and that he would not be released until
investigations are concluded. He did not say what they were investigating.

Oyelere remains in police custody.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
- stating that the use of criminal charges to repress or intimidate journalists
undermines the spirit of Nigeria's new democratic process and violates the right
to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Nigerian
Constitution
- calling on them to immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against
Oyelere
- asking them to immediately and unconditionally release Oyelere
- urging them to respect the rights of journalists to practice their profession
freely

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau
Governor of Kano State
Government House, Kano
Tel: +234 64 635 726
Fax: +234 64 646 577

Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu
Commissioner of Police
Kano State Police Command Headquarters
Bompai, Kano
Tel: +234 64 4216 0428
Mobile: +234 80 3309 3689
Fax: +234 64 632 714

Please copy appeals to the source.

For further information, contact Ayode Longe, Media Rights Agenda, 10 Agboola
Aina Street, off Amore Street, Ikeja, P.O. Box 52113, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria,
tel: +234 1 493 6033, fax: +234 1 493 0831, e-mail: [email protected],
Internet: http://www.internews.org/mra

The information contained in this action alert is the sole responsibility of
MRA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MRA.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Suite 403, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: [email protected] general e-mail: [email protected]
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________