The Nigeria Police Force, Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Enugu, has invited the Enugu State reporter of The PUNCH, Mr Raphael Ede, over an unpublished story.
In a press statement by Ede in Enugu on Monday, the purported police invitation sent via WhatsApp directed the PUNCHman to appear at the FCID Annex in Enugu on Tuesday (today).
However, Ede said he had informed the police officer to officially write his employer on the subject matter.
According to the press statement, the police invitation sent via WhatsApp read in part, “My name is Detective ORJI GODSON. I am a police officer serving at FCID Annex Enugu. My formation is investigating a case of conspiracy, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace in which you featured prominently. In view of this, you are kindly requested to interview the AIG FCID Annex Enugu via AIG team leader on 24/06/2025 to throw more light on the allegations.”
Meanwhile, PUNCH Metro learnt that Ede had reported the matter to two human rights organisations, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, and the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre.
The human rights groups have also written petitions to the Inspector General of Police, Police Service Commission and Assistant Inspector General of Police at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, asking them to look into the matter.
The groups in a joint petition stated that the right to freedom of the press is constitutionally guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, insisting that if anybody or group of persons at any point in time feels that a journalist “published a libellous publication against them, such person or group of persons could apply to the High Court for redress,” more so when the reporter hadn’t published any report.
“We seek the protection of the law for Mr. Raphael Ede and submit that the right to the freedom of the press is a constitutionally guaranteed right under the Nigerian Constitution. If anybody or group of persons at any point in time feels that a journalist published a libellous publication against them, such person or group of persons could apply to the High Court for redress against such a libellous publication. Our society is a civilised one regulated by law, so there is no need for any group of persons or government officials to take the law into their hands and resort to the rule of the jungle.
“This matter becomes so painful because the officials of government who are being paid with taxpayers’ money are the ones using the instrumentality of the state and the police to oppress an innocent citizen. So, if a journalist writes based on court documents revealing the anomalies which occurred in a government agency, why should that warrant calling for the head of such a journalist?
“We condemn in all ramifications the attempt to infringe on the freedom of the press in Enugu State. We call on the Federal government and the police to ensure that this act of lawlessness exhibited by agents of the state government should stop henceforth because it is not good for our developing democracy. Journalists in the state and everywhere in Nigeria should be given due respect and a free hand to operate and carry out their legitimate and lawful duties,” the petition partly read.
Ede is currently working on an investigative report involving officials of the Enugu State Government and some parties.
Although the story has yet to be published, the police officer who called the reporter said the invitation was centred on the investigative report.
