PAMED Calls for Immediate Release of Journalist Precious Eze Amid Outcry Over Unlawful Detention
By Auwal Ahmad
The Partnership for Media and Democracy (PAMED) has urgently demanded the release of Precious Eze, a journalist and publisher of the online newspaper “News Platform,” who has been detained by the Nigerian Police Force since his arrest on Monday, May 27, 2024.
Eze was apprehended at his Gbagada, Lagos, residence by officers from the Zone 2 Command and remains in custody at the time of this press release.
PAMED condemned the prolonged detention as a blatant violation of Subsection 5 of Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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This subsection mandates that an individual must be charged to court within a day if there is a competent court within 40 kilometres, or within two days in other cases, unless a court considers a longer period reasonable.
Citing Section 61(1) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, PAMED emphasised that the law requires suspects arrested without a warrant to be granted bail if they cannot be charged within 24 hours, provided the offence is not capital.
Comprising the International Press Centre (IPC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), PAMED expressed deep concern over what it sees as an alarming pattern of journalist intimidation and assaults on press freedom in Nigeria.
The arrest reportedly followed a complaint by businessman and politician Prince Chris Odinaka Igwe.
Despite efforts by Eze’s colleagues to secure his release, he remained in custody for nearly a week before being brought before the Ebute Meta Magistrate Court on Thursday, May 30. The magistrate dismissed the case, finding no merit and affirming that Eze had no case to answer.
However, instead of being released, Eze was rearrested and brought before another magistrate on Friday, May 31, with the case adjourned to June. Eze has now been detained for over two weeks.
Seunmanuel Faleye, General Secretary of Digital Newspaper Owners of Nigeria, highlighted the judicial rebuke of the police’s actions, noting, “The magistrate’s dismissal should have led to Precious Eze’s immediate release. His continued detention is not only unlawful but also an egregious breach of his constitutional rights.”
PAMED calls on the Nigerian authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure the immediate release of Precious Eze, warning that such actions undermine democracy and freedom of the press in the country.
