Enugu State Police Command has said that the publisher and editor-in-chief of Globalupfront Newspaper Madu Onuorah was arrested over an alleged defamatory publication against a reverend sister based in the United States.
The management of the online newspaper earlier raised alarm that Mr Onuorah was taken away when 10 policemen stormed his residence around 6pm on Wednesday in Lugbe, Abuja in two Sienna buses.
It has since confirmed that its editor-in-chief was released on Thursday night.
Spokesman of Enugu State Police Command Daniel Ndukwe said in a statement that Onuorah was not abducted as reported in the media.
Ndukwe said, “The Enugu State Police Command is in receipt of several publications alleging the abduction of an Abuja-based online news publisher, one Madu Onuorah ‘m’.
“The Command wishes to state that contrary to the allegations, he was duly arrested in Abuja with the assistance of police operatives from Ebonyi State Command and the aid of intelligence, after efforts made to formally invite him failed.
“Furthermore, his arrest was following the receipt of a written petition to the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, against him over an alleged defamatory publication he made against a US-based Reverend Sister.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, psc (+), has ordered the office handling the case to professionally investigate and ensure that justice prevails. He calls on the press family, particularly the leadership and members of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and associates of the suspect, to exercise patience, assuring that the needful will be done in the case.”
