DSS finally releases journalist detained for ‘defaming’ A’Ibom commissioner

Kufre Carter, a journalist with XL 106.9 FM Uyo in Akwa Ibom state who was arrested for allegedly defaming Dominic Ukpong, the state commissioner of health, has regained freedom.

Inibehe Effiong, counsel to the journalist, who confirmed his release to TheCable, said his client was freed on Wednesday.

TheCable had launched a campaign for the release of Carter who was arrested last month.

Despite a court order granting him bail, the journalist was still kept in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

But Effiong said Yusuf Bichi, the director-general of the DSS gave instruction that the court order should be obeyed.

“On Wednesday, 27th May, 2020 at about 9:30 a.m., our client, Kufre Carter, a sport’s journalist with XL 106.9 FM in Uyo regained freedom after spending one month in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) at the instance and on the instigation of the Akwa Ibom State Government,” Effiong said in a statement.

“This came after the Director-General of the SSS, Alhaji Yusuf Bichi, ordered the SSS Command in Akwa Ibom State to comply with the valid and subsisting Order of the Court and release our client.”Effiong said they had received an indication on Tuesday night that Carter would be freed.”

He also dismissed claims that the journalist had tendered an apology to Udom Emmanuel, governor of the state.

“Like I told the attorney-general of Akwa Ibom state, Uwemedimo Uwoko Esq., in court when he tried to humiliate me by announcing to the hearing of lawyers in the Bar on 11th May, 2020, that Kufre had apologised to the governor, our client did not apologise to the governor as he claimed and has no reason to do so,” he said.

“I also told Mr Nwoko that it is the governor who must apologise to our client. We remain unwavering in our position.

“Those who clandestinely bargained for apology with the government in an attempt to give the government a soft landing did so in bad faith.”

Inibehe added they would return to the court on June 1 for the pending charge against the journalist.