The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has petitioned the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Majebi, over the unlawful detention of the publisher of Democracy News, Chief Femi Olugbemi, at the Kabba Correctional facility in the state.
J.U. Usman, counsel to Kogi NUJ, noted in the petition that the President of Upper Area Court Kabba, Edwin Tebu, unlawfully detained Olugbemi over alleged criminal defamation.
The petition, titled “Gross Abuse of Office, Reckless Exercise of Discretion and Unlawful Incarceration of Our Client,” read in part: “Our client, as a professional journalist, has observed the ethics of journalism in the discharge of his duties as such and has never had a brush with the law.
“On 6th August 2024, at about 1 pm, a staff of Upper Area Court, Kabba, came to his house in Kabba and informed him that the President of his Court wanted to see him urgently. Our client demanded to know why the said President of Upper Area Court, Kabba, Edwin Tebu, wanted to see him but the said staff of the court feigned ignorance.
“Our client then followed the said staff to the court. As soon as our client got to the court, he was docked. Our client demanded to be served with a copy of the charge sheet or complaint for which he was brought to the court but they shouted at him that he has no right to question the court’s authority.
“Subsequently, a Direct Criminal Complaint (DCC) was read to him alleging criminal defamation, wherein he pleaded not guilty and was remanded in Kabba Correctional facility. Our client was immediately taken to the said correctional facility around 2:30 pm.
“It is in view of the foregoing that the following questions agitate our mind; whether it is proper for the President of the Upper Area Court, Kabba, to invite our client to his court; whether the Upper Area Court, Kabba, can assume jurisdiction in a criminal case where the defendant was never served a copy of the charge sheet/FIR/direct criminal complaint and proceed to remand our client.; whether the procedure adopted by the Upper Area Court, Kabba, in the instant case without referring same to the police for investigation was right?
“And whether the court exercised its discretion judicially and judiciously by remanding our client at the correctional facility, Kabba for the offence of criminal defamation, which is bailable?”
Counsel to the Kogi State NUJ urged the chief judge to intervene, order a proper investigation into the complaint and ensure justice.
