Tony Okafor
An Anambra State-born journalist and publisher of 247UREPORTS, Ikenna Ezenekwe, has been arrested by the police in Abuja.
A family source in Anambra State who spoke in confidence told our correspondent that Ikenna was arrested over an alleged unfavorable story he wrote about a former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Willie Obiano, Mr. Primus Odili.
The Abuja-based media practitioner was said to be arrested on Tuesday at about 12:43pm at a site where he was before some policemen in plain clothes came and whisked him away.
The source said the policemen initially refused to explain the reasons behind his arrest, adding, “They only told him that there was a petition against him without telling him who or where the said petition came from.
“They took him to Police Headquarters at Louis Edet House, Area II, Abuja; and it was there they disclosed to him that the petition was from Anambra and from Primus Odili (former Chief of Staff to Obiano) for a libelous publication, citing a story he (Ezenekwe) wrote and published on 13th May, this year.”
The source who said Ezenekwe was later transferred to Maitama Police Station, Abuja further revealed that Obiano’s former aide said he believed that it was his enemies in the Anambra Government House that told him (Ezenekwe) to write the story, and therefore insisted that he should mention the names of the people behind the story.
“They( police) said they know the people who told him to write the story, but they want him to mention their names by himself; and insisted that they would continue to detain him until he mentions the names/source.”
Before his arrest, the family source said, “Ezenekwe was seriously sick . He has not taken his medication since yesterday(Tuesday). We call call for the urgent intervention by relevant authorities to secure his release from the police cell, as he is being unjustly tormented, intimidated and tortured”.