Editor-in-Chief of Authentic News Daily in Kaduna, Jacob Dickson, who was detained on the orders of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai is now free. The journalist who was imprisoned for seven days secured his release on Thursday following calls by several rights groups and media associations in the state.
Operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the Nigerian Police Force invited Dickson, a reporter for the news website Authentic News Daily, on Thursday 28th April over a report that cited witnesses as saying youths had pelted the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, with rocks as he tried to broker peace between residents of two adjacent neighbourhoods.
Then police reported took Dickson to the Kaduna Magistrate Court and charged him with incitement and then returned him to custody the same day.
Speaking after his release, Dickson expressed gratitude to his colleagues and human rights organizations in the country for ensuring his release from custody. He said he was treated with high sense of professionalism by the police and when he was eventually taken to prison.
Dickson insisted that he reported the accurate account of events.
“I sincerely want to thank my State chairman, the secretary, colleagues within and outside Kaduna and other human right organizations for standing by me throughout the days l was invited by the security operatives up to today when l regained my freedom.
“The story l wrote was not intended in anyway to cause disaffection in the state, but l was trying to bring to the knowledge of the general public what happened,” he explained.
Mr Dickson was alleged as being behind the publication of the cold war resulting into exchange of slaps between the State Executive governor and his deputy, Alh. Bala Bantex.
According to the prosecutors, the suspect was aware that the inciting publication, which he admitted was yet to be confirmed in his written statement, will be read by the general public; contrary to section 180 of the Penal Code law of Kaduna State 1991 and section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern Region) Federal Provisions ordinance, 1960.
The case is billed for hearing on Thursday, 12th May, 2016 at the Magistrate Court 1, Ibrahim Taiwo road, Kaduna.
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