The police on Friday raided the Abuja office of an online newspaper Peoples Gazette and arrested two correspondents, an editor, and two administrative staff members.
It was gathered that they were arrested over a story published by the newspaper linking a former chief of army staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai (retd.), to some property that were seized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission in suspicion of money laundering.
Peoples Gazette publisher Samuel Ogundipe told PUNCH that the arrested journalists and other staff members were released unconditionally around 6 pm.
Mr Ogundipe added that he learnt the police came for him and the reporter Adefemola Akintade who wrote the story.
The publisher accused Buratai of using the police to intimidate the media. According to him, the police said there was a petition against the newspaper accusing it of defaming Buratai’s character.
“But the truth is that, if Buratai feels that his character was defamed, he should go to court rather than resort to the use of state forces to intimidate our journalists and staff members,” he said.
FCT police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said the police got a warrant of arrest.
“In investigating this case, a duly signed warrant of arrest was obtained and presented to effect the arrest of the duo. Their statements have been taken and they have been granted bail, while investigation continues,” she told PUNCH.
Ogundipe however noted that he is out of the country and Ms Akintade was not at the office at the time of the raid.
