The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Inspector General of Police ( IG) Mr Hafis Rigim, to henceforth ensure that arrests were made in accordance with the law.
This was part of the recommendations on of the Joint Committee on Justice, human Rights, Police Affairs and media on the arrest of four senior editors of Vintage Press Ltd ( Publishers of the Nation Newspapers ).
On Oct. 11, Mr Yomi Odunuga, Head of Abuja Bureau, Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operations, Lawal Ogienagbon, Deputy Editor and News Editor, weekend, Dapo Olufade were arrested by the Police for publishing an alleged letter written to President Jonathan by former President Obasanjo.
The findings of the Committee also revealed that the mode of arrest and detention of the journalist by the police was not done according to law.
The House also recommended that the arrest and detention of Mr Unachukwu Austin, the legal Counsel to the Nation Newspapers while rendering his professional service to his client, was indefensible therefore the IG should offer him a written apology on behalf of the Police.
It also recommended that the IG was encouraged to continue with investigation on the veracity of the letter (the purported letter that led to the arrest of the journalists ) and get to the root of the matter with a view to prosecuting anyone found to be involved in any criminal conduct.
It further condemned in strong term the manner in which the arrest was carried.
Leading the debate on the findings and recommendation of the Committee, Rep. Ali Ahmad (PDP – Kwara ) said that the arrested journalists and lawyer who went to ensure that their rights were not infringed on all appeared before the Committee.
According to Ahmad, the police conducted mass arrest at vintage press, adding that it an unlawful arrest.
Reps, Toyo Nkoyo ( PDP Cross – River ) and the Leader of the House, Mulikat Adeola- Akande in their contributions all queried the manner of the arrest, adding that it was forcefully done.
Rep. Ibrahim El – Sudin ( PDP – Taraba ) said the issue of unlawful arrest was enshrined in the Constitution, adding that anybody whose rights had been infringed on could go to court.
The recommendations when put to vote by the Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha was adopted.