The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7 Police Command, Abuja, Joseph Mbu has denied allegations of directing the arrest of an African Independent Television, AIT, journalist, Mr Amaechi Anekwu, Nigerian Bulletin reports.
This is subsequent to reports that accused him of directing the arrest of the journalist on October 2, 2014 for describing him as “controversial”.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday, October 9, 2014, through the zone’s police public relations officer, CSP Chidi Nzota, Mbu claimed that the journalist was only invited to his office for questioning which lasted for about five hours after which he was discharged.
The AIG further refuted all claims of beating and detaining the journalist maintaining that none of such happened.
According to the source, Mbu claimed that at the time Anekwe was with the police for interrogation, there were only three suspects in the cell, including a Police Constable who was detained on disciplinary grounds.
Therefore, the AIG advised the journalists to maintain the ethics and code of conduct of their profession which permits them to be objective in their reports to the masses.
AIT has been the subject of government harassment over the years. Press freedom in Nigeria is often threatened by overzealous officials like Mr. Mbu.
