|
Security Agents
Invade Private Television Station and Arrest Journalist
On June 14, 2006, operatives of the State Security Service (SSS),
Nigeria's intelligence agency, invaded the premises of the country's
largest private television network, the "Africa Independent Television" (AIT),
in Abuja and arrested the presenter of the popular "Focus Nigeria"
programme, Gbenga Mike Aruleba.
Initially, it was not clear why Aruleba was arrested as it was believed to
be connected with an interview he granted a former senator, Joseph Waku,
which was aired on the "Focus Nigeria" programme the previous day, June
13. Senator Waku harshly criticized the administration of President
Olusegun Obasanjo during the interview.
Aruleba was released conditionally late on June 15 after he reportedly
embarked on a hunger strike to protest his detention, but was asked to
report back to the SSS office on June 19.
Speaking after his release he disclosed that he was detained in an
underground cell, where he met two other persons, one of whom had been
held there for two years and the other for four months.
Aruleba said he was questioned by the SSS about a statement he made on the
"Focus Nigeria" programme that a new presidential jet bought by the
Nigerian Government a few weeks ago was a used aircraft. He said the
security agents told him that if the matter was not resolved amicably with
the AIT management by 19 June, he would be formally charged with sedition.
The "Focus Nigeria" programme, which Aruleba anchors daily, was introduced
by the station in January 2006. It runs from 10.00am to 11.00am from
Monday to Friday. Aruleba said during the maiden edition of the programme
that it is "to put in focus all issues and processes leading to the 2007
General Election," It also encourages audience participation through
telephone calls and SMS text messages.
The raid on
AIT was the second by SSS operatives in one month. On 14 May 2006, SSS
agents raided the same Abuja office of AIT and seized the master tape of a
30-minute documentary advert on failed attempts by various past Nigerian
heads of state to prolong their tenure in office. Nigeria's National
Assembly was then debating a controversial proposal to amend the 1999
Constitution in order, among other things, to extend the tenure of the
President and state governors by a further four years. The proposal was
later defe
|
