Saturday, October 04, 2014
A Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja has discharged the Africa independent Television (AIT) journalist, Mr. Amaechi Anakwe, who was arrested and detained for over eight hours on Thursday on the order of AIG in charge of Zone 7, Joseph Mbu, over an allegation of defamation of character.
When the matter was called on Friday, the defence counsel, John Kalu, urged the court to oblige him a copy of the first information to enable him know the offence Amaechi was being charged for. More after the cut..
Prosecution counsel, Chijoke Okezie, in an oral application told the court that the plaintiff had withdrawn the case and that the accused person was brought to his office for further clarification.
The application was not opposed by the defence counsel, rather, he begged the court for an order preventing the plaintiff or its privies from further harassing or arresting Amaechi.
In a short ruling delivered by the Chief Magistrate, Anthony Ogboi, the court discharged the accused.
Meanwhile, a coalition of activists on the platform of the “Say No Campaign” has called for the sack of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Joseph Mbu, for the unlawful detention of Amaechi Anakwe...
The coalition said the unlawful detention of the journalist who was doing his job and speaking for the benefit of democracy is “abuse of power on the parts of security agencies whose sole responsibility is to protect its citizens.”
Speaking with journalists yesterday at a media briefing organised by the SNC in Abuja, the co-convener, Ezenwa Nwegbu said they were disturbed by the various acts of impunity carried about by various government bodies and people in power without any form of repercussions saying “no lessons have been learnt from the unfortunate inhuman and ultimately fatal commercialisation of recruitment into the National Immigration Service(NIS) on March 15, 2014.”
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