A civil rights group Coalition of Journalists of Conscience(CJC), has condemned the continued detention of Ayodele Samuel Oloye, a journalist and publisher of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper by the Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku.
At a press briefing held on Friday in Lagos, the group accused Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba state of using his office through his commissioner for justice and the police to unjustly remand Mr. Oloye, at the Taraba Police command despite meeting bail conditions at the magistrate court.
Speaking through general secretary Akinwale Kasali, the group called on the Nigerian police force, the commissioner of police Taraba state command, and the Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku to obey the court ruling and free Ayodele Samuel.
Ayodele Samuel, publisher of Taraba Truth and Facts newspaper and the CEO of Rock FM Jalingo was arraigned at a magistrate court in Jalingo last week on a two-count charge of defamation and injurious falsehood.
The charges were filed against him by the Taraba state attorney general. His prosecution is in apparent reaction to the Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper publication on 17 September 2022. The publication titled “Taraba for Sale” alleges a possible sale of the Taraba state-owned Mambilla Beverages Company and state properties, including the liaison office in Abuja.
NOHR learned that similar publications had appeared in other prominent Nigerian media before the publication of Taraba Truth and Facts without rebuttal.
Mr. Oloye had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail by the magistrate. NOHR learned that the bail conditions were met but it is unclear how the publisher remains in detention. Sources said he had been denied access to his family an6d lawyers
