The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday arrested the editor of NewsDigest, Gidado Yushuau, over a story it deemed libelous.
The police have also moved a journalist with NewsDigest, Adebowale Adekoya, from Lagos to Kwara and now Abuja over the same report.
PRNigeria gathered that Yushau, who is also the Editor of the YouthsDigest, was arrested on Tuesday night and first taken to Wuye District Police Station after the plain-clothed police officers stormed his residence in Abuja.
According to PR Nigeria, the journalists were arrested in a Gestapo-like style for publishing an investigative news story titled, “Inside Kwara factory where Indian hemp smoking is legalised”.
The factory, Hillcrest Agro-Allied Industry in Ilorin, is said to be owned by a former acting governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Sarah Alade.
The report, which was published on May 19, 2018, was authored by Alfred Olufemi, an award-winning campus journalist.
In the report, it was stated that Hillcrest Agro-Allied Industry tolerated the smoking of cigarettes as well as Indian hemp by workers saddled with the responsibility of loading and off-loading processed and unprocessed grains in trucks without being sanctioned
And in Calabar, the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda on wednesday adjourned the hearing on the trial of journalist and rights activist, Agba Jalingo to November 5 and 6th, 2019 for continuation.
He gave the ruling on Wednesday following arguments by both prosecution and defence counsels.
The prosecution counsel, Dennis Tarhemba, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, prayed that the court should adjourn after Jalingo took his plea.
However, the lead counsel to the defendant, Adeyinka Olumide-fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, opposed the prosecution’s application and prayed the court to grant Jalingo bail.
Justice Amobeda, after rising twice on the matter, granted the prayer of the prosecution for adjournment and dismissed the prayer for bail by the defence.
He said the circumstances did not warrant granting the defendant bail, adding that the number of adjournments requested by the prosecution counsel had not been exceeded what is prescribed by law.
Jalingo was charged with terrorism, treasonable felony and attempt to topple the Cross River State government
His trial had suffered several adjournments until Wednesday when it commenced.