The publisher and Managing Editor of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper, Ayodele Samuel has been released.
The journalist was arraigned at a magistrate court in Jalingo on a two-count charge of defamation and injurious falsehood.
The charges were filed against him by the Taraba state attorney general. His prosecution followed 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.
He was remanded for many days despite meeting his bail conditions which were the provision of N10 million naira and two sureties who must be residents of Jalingo with landed properties worth N5 million naira each.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by Lance Momodu, Ag. Editor of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper, the journalist is currently receiving medical care at a facility due to his deteriorated health condition and the trauma he had faced in the past few days.
The statement read, “We delight in announcing the release of Oloye Ayodele Samuel, publisher of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper. Oloye Ayodele Samuel was released Monday evening following a judgment of a Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State.
“Justice Usman Bala had earlier ruled that the journalist, who is also the CEO of Rock FM should be released immediately under the same bail conditions granted by the magistrate court where the case had begun.
“Ayodele is currently receiving medical care at a facility due to his deteriorated health condition and the trauma he had faced in the past few days. Despite the unfortunate experience, the publisher remains resolute and courageous to keep on carrying out his duty objectively for the furtherance of the state and the nation. “Ayodele Samuel along with his family, staff, and management of Taraba Truth and Facts and Rock FM Jalingo also use this medium to thank all those who sympathized, advocated, and contributed one way or the other to his release, all media organisations, senior journalists and right groups that spoke against his unlawful arrest”
