IGP clears charges against Daily Times, Anosike brothers

Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, has cleared all charges against Fidelis Anosike, publisher of Daily Times, and Noel Anosike, group managing director of the newspaper, and five staff of the company.

Idris has also commissioned a full investigation into allegations against Ikechukwu Obiorah, a former senator from Anambra state, who is involved in a battle with Anosike, over the ownership of the publication.

H.M. Dagala, deputy inspector general of police, force criminal intelligence and investigation department and Denum Ogunsanya and Co are also to be investigated in the new turn of events.

The investigation seeks to uncover how Fidelis, Noel and five other staff were arrested and remanded in Kuje Prison for seven days when the same matter was already being handled by the appellate court.

The IGP’s directive, which led to the invasion of Obiora’s residence in Abuja on Thursday morning, came after petition by Anosike, directed to the police high command, the attorney general of the federation and other security agencies.

In the petition, Anosike drew attention to the “injustice being meted out to him and his management staff by Obiora and the police”.

In an interview with TheCable, Anosike said he had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over the ownership crisis rocking the newspaper.

He also presented documentary evidence which was given to him when Folio Communications Ltd, his company, took over the ownership of the newspaper.

He said Folio Communications Ltd “bought the newspaper legally and has not sold its shares to anyone”.