Nigerian publisher arrested
By Leah McBride Mensching, Wednesday 17 October 2007 at 22:28 :: Press Freedom & Laws :: #712 :: rss
The publisher of the popular weekly Uyo newspaper, Events, was arrested by security agents last week and continues to be detained, apparently because of allegations printed in the latest edition of the newspaper.
The paper, published by Jerome Imeime, contained a caption reading “Akpabio finger treasury,” which may have contained unfavourable news or allegations about the country's governor, Godswill Akpabio.
According to an eyewitness, Imeime was arrested at Ibom Hall, while attending a Christian Crusade organised by Winners Chapel, and was manhandled, before being taken away to an unknown destination, a report posted on allAfrica.com stated.
The state government in Nigeria has distanced itself from the arrest and continued detention.
Census Ekpu, the government's commissioner of information, said in a statement that neither the government nor Akpabio had anything to do with the arrest.
Publishers and others in the local media have urged President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to follow democratic processes in Imeime's, and other press-related cases.
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