Sodiq Atanda, the journalist who was detained at the Ekiti State Police Command headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, has been released.
His detention followed a petition filed by the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof Abayomi Fasina, who is currently on leave. Fasina accused the reporter of defamation, blackmail, and cyberbullying.
Atanda, a senior investigative journalist, was invited to the police headquarters for questioning after the petition was submitted by Fasina’s legal representatives.
However, the situation escalated when he was reportedly prevented from leaving the premises on the orders of Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo. This sudden detention raised immediate concern among press freedom advocates and civil society organisations.
The journalist’s release has now brought relief to his media organisation and others who feared the case would turn into another prolonged clampdown on press freedom in Nigeria.
