The Nigeria chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) protested the arrest of a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Sodeeq Atanda; his wife, Adenike and their nine-month-old child, following which the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun ordered their immediate release and the sanction of the head of a police unit implicated in the controversial arrest.
The IGP’s directive follows public outcry over the detention of the journalist’s wife and nine-month-old child, allegedly used as bait to lure him.
IPI Nigeria said the arrest ‘constitutes a clear and unlawful arrest by proxy, in violation of Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and Section 36 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, both of which unequivocally prohibit the arrest of any person in place of a suspect’.
It demanded a public apology by the Nigeria Police Force to Mrs. Atanda and her nine-month-old child; adequate compensation for the unlawful arrest, detention, and trauma inflicted on them, the immediate arrest, investigation, and prosecution of all officers who instigated and carried out this illegal action;, and the dismissal from service of those officers, as a deterrent to future abuses.
The incident occurred on Monday when officers from the IGP Monitoring Unit reportedly detained Atanda’s wife and child at a location in Ikorodu, Lagos.
According to FIJ, the police compelled Adenike to call her husband under the pretence that their child was ill and needed hospital attention.
When Atanda arrived, he was handcuffed and taken to the Force Headquarters in Obalende.
FIJ founder and editor-in-chief, Fisayo Soyombo confirmed the arrest and subsequent release on X, stating that the action stemmed from an investigative report by Atanda.
Atanda was released shortly before midnight on Monday along with his family, sparking public outrage over police conduct and press freedom.
Activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore criticised the police tactics as ‘deeply disturbing’, accusing the force of collaborating with private interests to abduct civilians and undermine law and order.
He said that the episode exemplified systemic issues within the Nigeria Police Force, potentially eroding public trust.
Reacting on X, Police Force spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Benjamin Hundeyin defended the IGP, stating that Egbetokun was ‘miffed’ upon learning of the arrest through the IPI Nigeria.
‘Inasmuch as you (Sowore) might want your depiction of the IGP to be true, it isn’t. I was with him last night when Mojeed Musikilu of the International Press Institute reached out to me about the arrest. I promptly informed the IGP, and he was miffed. You might choose to believe I am making this up, but it is the truth.
‘He (IGP) directed that the head of the unit (not a DPO as you claimed) be contacted to release the journalist immediately. I updated Mojeed accordingly’, Hundeyin said.
Hundeyin emphasised that the IGP ordered the journalist’s immediate release and sanctioned the unit head.
‘The IGP was particularly angry that this came up at a time when the Police had pledged and are taking tangible steps to ensure press freedom. He equally ordered that the head of that unit be sanctioned for his conduct.
‘IGP Egbetokun does not want and would not condone any setback to our support for press freedom’, Hundeyin added.
Meanwhile, FIJ said that the journalist’s arrest is because of a story on how the Chief Executive Officer of Legend Adex Immigration Consult, Adeyemi Awoyinfa allegedly refused to refund £15,000 he was said to have collected in November 2023 from a United Kingdom-based Nigerian, who wanted two certificates of sponsorship for two of his family friends, after failing to deliver.
In a statement on Tuesday by its President, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed; and Legal Adviser. Mr. Tobi Soniyi, IPI Nigeria said that police officers tracked Mrs. Atanda and her infant to their neighbourhood and arrested them while Mr. Atanda was not at home. ‘Neither Mrs. Atanda nor her nine-month-old child is a journalist, a suspect, or accused of any offence’, the body said.
It further said: ‘Beyond the illegal arrest, Mrs Atanda was subjected to harassment and psychological pressure.
‘Officers coerced her into falsely telling her husband that their infant was gravely ill in order to lure him out, effectively using a nursing mother and her baby as bait. The child was subjected to needless trauma and distress.
‘Their only “offence” was their relationship to a journalist.
‘That this egregious violation of the law was carried out by officers attached to the IGP Monitoring Unit is particularly disturbing, coming barely weeks after IPI Nigeria listed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, in its Book of Infamy for violations of press freedom.
‘Following that listing, the Inspector-General initiated engagement with IPI Nigeria and expressed commitment to improving police–media relations. He further mandated the IGP Monitoring Unit to engage with IPI Nigeria to address the growing pattern of harassment of journalists nationwide.
‘Ironically, the very unit designated for that engagement has now executed one of the most brazen violations of journalists’ rights witnessed in recent times.
‘In protest against this gross abuse of power, IPI Nigeria has suspended all engagements with the Nigeria Police Force until there is clear evidence of accountability, respect for the rule of law, and an end to hostility towards journalists.
‘Mrs. Atanda and her baby were released only after Mr Atanda presented himself to the police. He was subsequently arrested, handcuffed, and detained, and was released only after the intervention of IPI Nigeria’.
IPI Nigeria insisted that Mr. Atanda be allowed to carry out his legitimate journalistic duties without intimidation or harassment.
It further said: ‘The police must refrain from meddling in civil or commercial disputes properly within the jurisdiction of the courts and should advise complainants to seek redress through lawful judicial processes.
‘The persistent abuse of power by police officers thrives largely because acts of misconduct are rarely punished. Instead, officers who violate the law are often shielded and, in some cases, rewarded.
‘This culture of impunity incentivises further violations and continues to erode public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
‘IPI Nigeria observes with grave concern that indiscipline is too frequently tolerated in the Nigeria Police. Officers who have no business wearing the uniform continue to operate unchecked, worsening the already battered image of the police.
‘We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police to act decisively by purging the Force of officers unfit to serve and by demonstrating, through concrete action, a genuine commitment to reform, accountability, and respect for press freedom’.
