Olorunyomi and Okakwu after release by the Nigerian Police Photocredit: Premium Times
The Nigeria Police have released the two Premium Times journalists who were arrested Thursday afternoon after a raid on the newspaper’s office in Abuja.
Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of the newspaper and judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu, who were taken away at around 5:00 p.m on Thursday, were later released on bail and instructed to report at the FCT Police Command Headquarters by 8:00 a.m. Friday morning.
But, according to Premium Times, a highly-placed police source said the invitation could be a ploy to detain the journalists for an extended period.
The police source told the newspaper that 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.”
Their arrest, which was seen as an attempt by the government to silence free speech, had elicited nationwide condemnation.
cpcnews.org 