Police invite Premium Times reporter over yet to be published story

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has invited Emmanuel Agbo, a reporter with Premium Times, over a land dispute story he is working on.

On Monday, Agbo received an invitation letter dated May 31 from the office of the deputy inspector-general of police intelligence response team (NPF-IRT), via WhatsApp.

On May 30, the reporter was first contacted over the phone by a man who identified himself as a police officer named Ezemba Ezekiel.

The officer asked the journalist to come over to the office of IRT in Guzape, Abuja to “clarify a petition”.

“I am Ezemba Ezekiel from the Intelligence Response Team. I am calling you on behalf of Homadils. You are expected to come over to our office at Abattoir in Guzape to clarify a petition,” he said via phone.

A formal written invitation was sent after the journalist requested for one.

During the phone conversation, the officer mentioned the name of Homadils Realty Limited, a real estate firm and a major party to a land dispute which the reporter is currently focusing on.

Prior to the police invitation, the journalist had reached out to Bilkisu Aliu, the chief executive officer of Homadils.

The CEO later exchanged WhatsApp messages with the journalist on the allegations against her by a family laying claim to the disputed land.

‘WE’RE READY TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES’

In a letter delivered to the office of the deputy commissioner of police at IRT, Idris Akinbajo, managing editor of Premium Times, said the platform is ready to work with law enforcement agencies in the course of their professional duties.

Akinbajo asked the police to provide more details of the petition since its invitation only mentioned receipt of a petition

“We, Premium Times, are an online newspaper dedicated to using investigative journalism to hold power accountable and deepen democracy as enshrined in Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution,” the managing editor said.

“We are thus always ready to assist law enforcement agencies in the course of their professional duties.

“However, in your letter to Mr Emmanuel Agbo, you only stated that your ‘office is in receipt of petition…’ but did not provide any details of the petition.

“We ask that you provide more details of the petition to enable our reporter, Mr Agbo, to make adequate preparations and bring along relevant materials when he appears in your office.

“We trust that you will treat this promptly so we and Mr Emmanuel Agbo can prepare adequately and assist you in the course of your work.”

ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS

Over the past few months, attacks on journalists by law enforcement agencies have heightened.

In March, Segun Olatunji, a former editor of FirstNews, was abducted in Lagos.

On May 1, Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was detained by the police for 10 days after he was “abducted” by officers in Lagos.

On May 14, Jamil Mabai, a freelance journalist, was detained by the Katsina Hisbah religious police after being invited to “interview their spokesperson”.

On May 28, the police detained Dayo Aiyetan, the executive director of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), and Nurudeen Akewushola, a reporter.