Abuja — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Nigerian authorities to immediately release Secret Reporters journalist Stanley Ugagbe, who was remanded to prison on Tuesday for two months of pretrial detention, and to drop the cybercrime and defamation charges against him and his publisher, Tega Oghenedoro, also known as Fejiro Oliver.
Ugagbe was seized from a taxi in the capital, Abuja, on July 1 by security officers and detained until his July 6 release, without charge, from the National Cybercrime Centre.
When Ugagbe returned to the center to retrieve his phone and laptop on July 13, the police said they had orders to detain him, but released him into the custody of his lawyer, Adekunle Olanipekun, and instructed them to appear in court the following day, Olanipekun told CPJ.
On July 14, an Abuja court charged Ugagbe and Oliver on six counts over their June investigation into a Central Bank of Nigeria executive's involvement in alleged corruption and infidelity, according to a copy of the charge sheet, reviewed by CPJ. It described Oliver, who is outside Nigeria, as a suspect "now at large."
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
"Nigerian authorities have already subjected Stanley Ugagbe to secret detention. Now they are seeking to keep him behind bars for reporting on allegations of official corruption," said CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal. "Authorities must immediately release Ugagbe and drop the charges against him and Fejiro Oliver if they are serious about upholding democratic principles."
Ugagbe pleaded not guilty and applied for bail but the judge adjourned his application until September 21, as the prosecutor requested time to respond, Olanipekun told CPJ. With Nigeria's courts due to begin their annual one-month recess from July 27, Ugagbe was remanded to Kuje Custodial Centre, about 40 kilometers southwest of Abuja, he added.
Olanipekun said he feared Ugagbe would miss his mother's funeral on July 30 and he was making a fresh bail application.
Ugagbe and Oliver face the following charges:
Aiding, abetting, conspiring, or procuring another to commit an offence, in this case cyberstalking, contrary to Section 27(1)(b) of the cybercrimes law, which is punishable by up to seven years imprisonment.
False publication, contrary to Section 24 (1)(b) of the same law, which is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 7 million naira (US$ 5,074).
Bullying, threatening, or harassing another person, contrary to Section 24(2)(a) of the same law, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a 25 million naira (US$ 18,121) fine.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Harming the executive's reputation, contrary to Section 24(2)(c) of the same law, which is punishable under (c) (ii) with up to five years imprisonment or a 15 million naira (US$ 10,873) fine.
Defamation, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code, which is punishable, under Section 392, with up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.
False publication intended to harm the executive's reputation, contrary to Section 393 of the same law, which is punishable by up to two years imprisonment, a fine, or both.
National police spokesperson Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu asked CPJ, via text message, to contact the Police Complaint Response Unit, where an official, who declined to give her name, said the police would look into the issue.
CPJ's calls and text messages to request comment from the Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu did not receive any replies.
