Segun Atanda/
In what may turn out a case of the hunter becoming the hunted, Nigerian online newspaper, Premium Times, has threatened to take legal action against the Nigerian Army over recent libelous and inflammatory statements made against the newspaper by the military authorities.
Premium Times Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, disclosed this in an interview monitored on local television, while reacting to Thursday’s arrest of the newspaper’s publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi and it’s judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu, by the police.
The pair were released on bail around 8pm, on Thursday, after spending three hours with the police.
The arrest, according to the security agents, followed a complaint by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai over certain publications in the online newspaper.
The newspaper had turned down the army’s demand to retract some news stories about the Nigerian Army and its operations.
Mojeed said Premium Times has a greater cause to demand for justice, because the Nigerian army had publicly accused the newspaper of supporting the terrorist group, Boko Haram, without providing any proof to justify the accusation.
He said the wild allegation made by the army was a deliberate attempt to endanger the lives of the staff of the newspaper and create public disaffection against the publication.
Mojeed stated: “We want to the military authorities to know that we have a bigger reason than they do to demand justice. The army at a well-publicised press conference had accused Premium Times of supporting Boko Haram without providing any proof.
“The action of the army has endangered the lives of our staff. It was also intended to turn the public against us. We will consider seeking redress in the court of law.”
While also condemning the raid on the newspaper, Mojeed said, “They should stop deluding themselves that they can muzzle the press and intimidate Premium Times. They should know that our loyalty lies with our readers and the Nigerian people who have a right to know.”
He added that the paper would continue “to discharge its responsibilities in line with global best practices, social responsibility and patriotism, even at great risk to our personal liberties”.
He advised the military to seek redress in court if they believe they have a case against Premium Times, rather than attempting to intimidate the newspaper and its staff.
On January 11, 2017, the newspaper had published a letter dated December 22, written on behalf of Mr. Buratai, by I.M Alkali, a Major General, accusing Premium Times of “unwarranted serial provocative, unauthorised, libellous and defamatory publications”.
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