The African Independent Television journalist, Amaechi Anakwe, has been set free by an Abuja Magistrate Court on Friday, October 03, 2014 following charges of referring to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Zone 7, Abuja, Mr. Joseph Mbu as “controversial”.
Mbu had on Thursday, October 02, 2014 directed that the journalist be nabbed after luring him to his office for allegedly addressing the AIG as controversial on the television station.
Anakwe was released by the chief magistrate who presided over the case, Anthony Ogboi, after the prosecution counsel, Chijoke Okezie, orally filed that the charge be withdrawn.
According to sources, Okezie disclosed to the court that Mbu directed the withdrawal of the and that Anakwe be further brought to his office for further explanation on the case.
Earlier on, the defence counsel, John Kalu, revealed to the court that he didn’t have a copy of the First Information Report to help him to know the offence his client was charged with.
However, he concurred with the application for the withdrawal of the charge, but demanded that an order should be given to Mbu or his cohorts to desist from harassing or arresting the journalist in future.
In a short ruling, the magistrate discharged Anakwe but refused to makean order to stop the police from further arresting him.
According to the magistrate, making such a restraining order could amount to impeding the duty of the police, Vanguard reports.
Meanwhile, Anakwe’s lawyers, Kalu and Ayo Ogundele, had the view that the arrest of the journalist was an infringement on fundamental human right.
