Police confirm arrest of brother of Fashola’s accuser
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Police have confirmed arrest of Chike Ibezim, the businessman brother of Nnamdi Ibezim, the publisher of Reportera, an online medium former Works Minister Babatunde Fashola alleged defamed him by reporting he drafter the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) now billed for delivery tomorrow.
Nnamdi is based in the United States, so critics say Chike was arrested in his stead in Nigeria, which is against the law that a person cannot be arrested or charged to court for a crime committed by someone else.
Chike was reportedly arrested in Abuja on August 10, a few days after the former Lagos Governor petitioned acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to urgently investigate the “baseless” allegation.
Reportera published the story earlier in August alleging Fashola, a close ally of President Bola Tinubu, was drafting the judgment that would be handed to the five PEPC Justices to deliver.
A furious Fashola denied the claim and petitioned Egbetokun, another Tinubu loyalist, to probe the report he claimed defamatory.
After Chike was picked up and detained, Nnamdi his brother accused the police of arrest by proxy.
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Presidential Election Petition Court to deliver judgment in live broadcast on Wednesday
Fashola petitions Egbetokun to probe reports he drafted PEPC judgment
Atiku criticises Economist Intelligence Unit for predicting PEPC won’t sack Tinubu
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Chike arrested ‘based on court order’, police insist
Force Headquarters spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi insisted Chike has a case to answer over alleged “malicious publication, cyber-bullying, and other related offences” and was arrested lawfully, backed by a court order.
“Contrary to speculations, we affirm that Mr. Chike is in lawful custody based on a court order, and his detention is in connection with a prima facie case of malicious publication, cyber-bullying, and other related offences that are still under investigation by the police,” Adejobi clarified in a statement, per Vanguard.
“The arrest and detention of individuals are carried out in strict adherence to legal procedures and respect for individual rights.
“In this case, a court order was obtained, following a thorough investigation, which established an indictment on Mr Chike, who has given useful information and is assisting the police in the course of their investigation.”