IGP arraigns 2 journalists for alleged injurious publication

Two journalists Daniel Elombah and Timothy Elombah
were on Thursday arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on
four- count charge by the Police for publishing offensive article
on the Inspector General, Ibrahim Idris on their website
Elombah.com.

The two journalist brothers pleaded not guilty to the four
-count charge bordering on defamation, cyber stalking , injurious
publication and terrorism. They said they never published an
injurious article against the IGP.Daniel and Timothy where however
admitted to bail on the sum of N500,000 and one surety each in like
sum.

The defendants counsel Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), who argued their
bail application urged the trial court judge, Justice Gabriel
Kolawole to admit them bail because the offences allegedly
committed are bailable.He deplored the charges brought against his
clients. “It is a shame that people are still being put on trial at
this age over something they said about those in power,” he
said.

The two brothers were arrested on January 1 on allegations that
they published an article critical of Mr. Idris on their website,
Elombah.com.Recalled that the Online Publishers Association of
Nigeria, OPAN had on Wednesday expressed concern over claims by the
Nigeria Police Force that two of it’s members conspired to commit
terrorism offences and cybercrime because they approved an opinion
article on their website which the police sees as uncomplimentary
and offensive.The Publishers of Elombah News were charged by the
Nigerian Police for Cybercrime, cyber stalking, cyber bullying and
for “championing Biafra terrorism”.

OPAN calls on the police to withdraw the spurious charges
without delay and stop harassing journalists for doing their
constitutionally backed assignments. A 4-count charge filed at the
Federal High Court 5 in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, revealed that
the Police is charging the Elombah brothers for cyber bullying and
cyber stalking the Inspector General Of Police, Ibrahim Kpotum
Idris.

OPAN is worried by the police’s claim that these journalists
carrying out their social responsibility, which is enshrined in the
constitution, intend to “create native war and lead to breakdown of
law in the country.” This claim is not only ridiculous, but also
disgraceful of the police force under the care of Mr. Idris.

It is laughable that the police force under whose watch 110
female teenage students were kidnapped from their dormitory at the
Government Girls Technical Science College, Dapchi, Yobe State, can
shamelessly descend so low to the extent of filing fabricated
charges against the two journalists who are contributing their own
quota to National development,” OPAN said in a statement on
Wednesday.

The reputable media organization has stated that they have
nothing to do with the publication in question, because it was
neither written by the Editor or Publisher or any staffer and there
is nothing in Elombah.com that promotes terrorism in Nigeria.It is
to be noted that the online medium has published series of articles
against the activities of Boko Haram in the country and other acts
of terrorism, so linking it with the activities of IPOB is a joke
taken too far.”For clarity, OPAN restates that Elombah.com is a
responsible media organization. It is not a terrorist organization
and neither is it “championing Biafra terrorism”.

Two journalists Daniel Elombah and Timothy Elombah
were on Thursday arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on
four- count charge by the Police for publishing offensive article
on the Inspector General, Ibrahim Idris on their website
Elombah.com.

The two journalist brothers pleaded not guilty to the four
-count charge bordering on defamation, cyber stalking , injurious
publication and terrorism. They said they never published an
injurious article against the IGP.Daniel and Timothy where however
admitted to bail on the sum of N500,000 and one surety each in like
sum.

The defendants counsel Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), who argued their
bail application urged the trial court judge, Justice Gabriel
Kolawole to admit them bail because the offences allegedly
committed are bailable.He deplored the charges brought against his
clients. “It is a shame that people are still being put on trial at
this age over something they said about those in power,” he
said.

The two brothers were arrested on January 1 on allegations that
they published an article critical of Mr. Idris on their website,
Elombah.com.Recalled that the Online Publishers Association of
Nigeria, OPAN had on Wednesday expressed concern over claims by the
Nigeria Police Force that two of it’s members conspired to commit
terrorism offences and cybercrime because they approved an opinion
article on their website which the police sees as uncomplimentary
and offensive.The Publishers of Elombah News were charged by the
Nigerian Police for Cybercrime, cyber stalking, cyber bullying and
for “championing Biafra terrorism”.

OPAN calls on the police to withdraw the spurious charges
without delay and stop harassing journalists for doing their
constitutionally backed assignments. A 4-count charge filed at the
Federal High Court 5 in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, revealed that
the Police is charging the Elombah brothers for cyber bullying and
cyber stalking the Inspector General Of Police, Ibrahim Kpotum
Idris.

OPAN is worried by the police’s claim that these journalists
carrying out their social responsibility, which is enshrined in the
constitution, intend to “create native war and lead to breakdown of
law in the country.” This claim is not only ridiculous, but also
disgraceful of the police force under the care of Mr. Idris.

It is laughable that the police force under whose watch 110
female teenage students were kidnapped from their dormitory at the
Government Girls Technical Science College, Dapchi, Yobe State, can
shamelessly descend so low to the extent of filing fabricated
charges against the two journalists who are contributing their own
quota to National development,” OPAN said in a statement on
Wednesday.

The reputable media organization has stated that they have
nothing to do with the publication in question, because it was
neither written by the Editor or Publisher or any staffer and there
is nothing in Elombah.com that promotes terrorism in Nigeria.It is
to be noted that the online medium has published series of articles
against the activities of Boko Haram in the country and other acts
of terrorism, so linking it with the activities of IPOB is a joke
taken too far.”For clarity, OPAN restates that Elombah.com is a
responsible media organization. It is not a terrorist organization
and neither is it “championing Biafra terrorism”.