The Managing Editor of The Nation newspapers (Northern Operations), Mr. Yusuf Alli, detained illegally the Nigerian Police Force has been freed after 48 hours in custody.
The police in Nigeria on Tuesday claimed that its invasion of the Lagos and Abuja facilities of The Nation newspaper was at the behest of an “unknown complainant” – a reminder of the “unknown soldier” saga of the 70’s under the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, when the Kalakuta Republic of famous Afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, was ransacked.
Force spokesperson, Olusola Amore, said that that the harassment and arrest of the editors and other workers of The Nation was based on the complaint of an unknown complainant.
Said a US-based columnist, Folabi Ogunleye, on Thursday, “it is irresponsible to arrest people based on hearsay. It would have been wiser to hush it and shut up after the error than for the police to give such a ridiculous excuse.” Observers of Nigerian events believe that the phantom complainant may not be any other than former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The invasion of The Nation continues to draw global condemnation. The country’s Lower House, the House of Representatives, has summoned the Attorney-General of the Federation, Bello Adoke and Inspector-General of Police, Afeez Ringim, to come and defend their embarrassing actions against the editors of The Nation. They are expected to appear on Tuesday.
Yusuf Alli was released without an appearance in court as earlier expected on Thursday. The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke, was at Force Headquarters to consult with Afeez Ringim around noon on Thursday. Alli was released thereafter.
In a chat with sharpedgenews.com on Thursday, Alli expressed gratitude to everyone who stood with him and The Nation in solidarity.