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Two Journalists Arrested,
Charged with Sedition
On June 25, 2006, Mr. Rotimi Durojaiye, Senior Aviation Correspondent of
Independent newspapers was arrested in Lagos by officers of the State
Security Service (SSS), Nigeria’s intelligence police. He was interrogated
and later taken to Abuja. He was questioned over a news story which he
wrote and was published on June 12, 2006 titled “Controversy over age,
cost of Presidential jet”.
Durojaiye and Independent newspapers’ Managing Editor, Mr. Akpandem James
were both invited to the Shangisha, Lagos office of the SSS on orders from
Abuja. Both men went with the newspaper’s General Counsel, Mr. Abiodun
Ajifolawu.
At the SSS office, Durojaiye and Akpandem were asked to write statements,
thereafter Akpandem was released with a promise that Durojaiye would also
shortly be released. Durojaiye was however not released but taken to Abuja
where he was detained.
The following day, June 26, 2006, Mr. Mike Aruleba, an Assistant General
Manager with Daar Communications Ltd, owners of Raypower FM and Africa
Independent Television (AIT) was arrested. He was initially arrested in
Abuja on June 14 in respect of a political programme called “Focus
Nigeria” which he presents.
Both arrests were in connection with the news story carried by Independent
newspapers on June 12.
On June 27, Messrs Aruleba and Durojaiye were arraigned before Justice
Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a six-count charge of
alleged conspiracy to commit a seditious act against President Olusegun
Obasanjo.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charges and filed an oral application
for bail through their counsels.
The judge refused them bail, ordering that they be remanded in SSS custody
in Abuja till hearing on July 29 and asking their counsels to file formal
application for their bail. He adjourned the matter to July 29.
On July 29, the judge granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 (five
hundred thousand Naira) each and one surety resident in Abuja who must
produce affidavit of means. He thereafter adjourned the matter to July 25,
2006.
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