By Tony Adibe
An Enugu-based Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network (CRRAN) and the Lagos-based Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) – both human rights organisations – have petitioned President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, concerning purported attempts by the Police to illegally arrest and detain a Reporter with The Punch in Enugu, Mr. Raphael Ede, for purported cyberbullying and an unpublished investigative report.
But Edeh raised the alarm concerning the said police invitation to him in a press statement he issued in Enugu, claiming that the said police invitation sent via WhatsApp directed him (Edeh) to appear at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Enugu on Tuesday (today). Ede also said he had informed the police officer to officially write his employer, The Punch Newspapers on the subject matter.
In Edeh’s press statement, the police invitation sent via WhatsApp read: “My name is Detective ORJI GODSON. I am a police officer serving at the 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. Because of this, you are kindly requested to interview the AIG FCID Annex Enugu via the AIG team leader on 24/06/2025 to throw more light on the allegations.”
The invitation prompted the journalist to formally complain to the two human rights organisations, CRRAN and RULAAC, who jointly petitioned the IGP and copied President Tinubu, as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, to alert them to the development.
President of CRRAN, Olu Omotayo Esq, and the Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, who jointly wrote and signed the petition, insisted that to unlawfully arrest Mr. Ede “is an attack on the journalism profession in Nigeria and should not be allowed to happen.” The petitioners have accused the Enugu State government officials as instigating the needless police invitation to Edeh.
CRRAN and RULAAC emphasised that Ede “is carrying out his journalism profession according to the tenets of the profession and should not be gagged or hushed.”
“We condemn in all ramifications the attempt to infringe on the freedom of the press in Enugu State,” said Omotayo and Nwanguma, who quickly added: “The Police need to be impartial in doing their work and uphold the Rule of Law at all times.”
NewsBits is hereby publishing the petition unedited:
Dear Sir,
RE: ATTACK ON THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN ENUGU AND THE ATTEMPT TO UNLAWFULLY ARREST AND DETAIN MR. RAPHAEL EDE, A JOURNALIST FOR CYBERBULLYING BY THE POLICE AT THE FORCE ANNEX, POLICE HEADQUARTERS ENUGU, AT THE INSTIGATION OF THE OFFICIALS OF ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT
The Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), and the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Center (RULAAC), write to you in respect of this matter on behalf of Mr. Raphael Ede, a Reporter with Punch Newspapers Limited of No. 83, Obiagu Road, Enugu. The reporter, in the course of his duties, had investigated a story involving some Enugu State Government officials, which led to the present invitation of Mr. Raphael Ede by the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) at Force Annex, Police Headquarters, Enugu. This development becomes worrisome as is an act being perpetrated by state government officials using the instrumentality of the Police to launch a massive attack on a journalist in the course of the performance of his lawful duties, and this constitutes an attack on the Freedom of the Press in the state.
According to Raphael Ede, On June 2nd, 2025, he obtained a petition written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against Mrs. Ugochi Maduke, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Enugu State. He also stated that he obtained court documents in respect of the suit instituted by some people against the Commissioner for defrauding Enugu people in millions of naira in the name of going for 2024 Olympic game in France.
“Mr. Raphael Ede further stated that he got the phone number of the Commissioner Mrs. Ugochi Maduke, called her on phone and sought her response. Mr. Raphael Ede said Mrs. Ugochi Maduke invited him to her office and showed him some documents to disclaim the allegations. Mrs. Maduke spoke at length and brought several documents, and team leaders of the Enugu State cultural troops. According to Raphael they were also interviewed, and he recorded all the conversations and also obtained some documents she forwarded to him.
“Raphael further stated that two days later, Mrs. Ugochi Maduke forwarded a court document seeking for the withdrawal of the case in court by the lawyer who instituted the action on behalf of his clients.
“Raphael said It was surprising that in the morning of 23rd June 2025, at about 9:15 am, One Orji Chigozie Godson, a police officer from Force CID Annex, Police Headquarters, Enugu, called him that one Ugochi Maduke petitioned against him for Conspiracy, Cyber bullying, Cyber stalking, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, which the office is investigating.
“Raphael submitted that though, the Commissioner Mrs. Ugochi Maduke, was mentioned as the complainant, it appeared that officials of Enugu State government who have been attacking him since December 2024, for reporting Fulani herdsmen killings in Eha-Amufu Isi-Uzo local government area, instigated the petition to silence him and ensure that no report about Fulani herdsmen attacks in Enugu are reported.
“Raphael further stated that the media aides to Governor Peter Mbah, on several occasions have openly threatened to shut him up by using the instrumentality of the state and judiciary because of reports about Fulani herdsmen killings in Eha-Amufu and other parts of the state.
DEMAND AND ACTION SOUGHT:
“We seek protection of the law for Mr. Raphael Ede, and submit that the Right to the freedom of the press is a constitutional guaranteed right under the Nigerian Constitution. If anybody or group of persons at any point in time feels that a journalist published a libelous publication against them, such person or group of persons could apply to the High Court for redress against such libelous publication. Our Society is a civilized one regulated by law, so there is no need for any group of persons or government officials to take 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 tax payers’ 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 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 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 free hand to operate and carry out their legitimate and lawful duties.
“The Police need to be impartial in doing their work and uphold the Rule of Law at all times.
Yours’ Faithfully,
Olu Omotayo Esq.
President (CRRAN)
Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director (RULAAC)”
