Description
Precious Eze Chukunonso, a journalist and the publisher of News Platform, an online newspaper, was arrested on 27 May in his home in Gbagada, Lagos, following a complaint about his reporting. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the arrest of Chukunonso, which is a clear act designed to intimidate and repress the media, and demands that charges against him be dropped.
Chukunonso was charged with ‘conduct likely to cause breach of peace, provoking a breach of the peace by offensive publication and conspiracy to commit felony’. If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to two years. The journalist was released on bail on 14 June and will stand trial on 2 July.
He was held in custody for nearly three weeks in relation to two articles about a local businessman, both published on the privately owned News Platform. The complaint was initiated by local businessman Prince Chris Odinaka Igwe, who heads the petroleum distribution firm Mainland Oil and Gas Limited.
The articles in question alleged that Prince Chris Odinaka Igwe was involved in a confrontation with a neighbour, during which shots were fired, News Platform reported.
Location
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Lagos, Nigeria
