Kufre Carter, a journalist with XL 106.9 FM Uyo in Akwa Ibom state who was arrested for allegedly defaming Dominic Ukpong, the state commissioner of health, has regained freedom.
Inibehe Effiong, counsel to the journalist, who confirmed his release to TheCable, said his client was freed on Wednesday.
TheCable had launched a campaign for the release of Carter who was arrested last month.
Despite a court order granting him bail, the journalist was still kept in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
But Effiong said Yusuf Bichi, the director-general of the DSS gave instruction that the court order should be obeyed.
“On Wednesday, 27th May 2020 at about 9:30 a.m., our client, Kufre Carter, a sport’s journalist with XL 106.9 FM in Uyo regained freedom after spending one month in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) at the instance and on the instigation of the Akwa Ibom State Government,” Effiong said in a statement.
“This came after the Director-General of the SSS, Alhaji Yusuf Bichi, ordered the SSS Command in Akwa Ibom State to comply with the valid and subsisting order of the Court and release our client.”Effiong said they had received an indication on Tuesday night that Carter would be freed.”
He also dismissed claims that the journalist had tendered an apology to Udom Emmanuel, governor of the state.
“Like I told the attorney-general of Akwa Ibom state, Uwemedimo Uwoko Esq., in court when he tried to humiliate me by announcing to the hearing of lawyers in the Bar on 11th May 2020, that Kufre had apologized to the governor, our client did not apologize to the governor as he claimed and has no reason to do so,” he said.
“I also told Mr. Nwoko that it is the governor who must apologize to our client. We remain unwavering in our position.
“Those who clandestinely bargained for an apology with the government in an attempt to give the government a soft landing did so in bad faith.”
Inibehe added they would return to the court on June 1 for the pending charge against the journalist.
It is a verifiable fact that the Honorable. Minister for Science and Technology, Chief. Engr.…
Two months after inferno ravaged the popularly GSM village in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital,…
A police operative attached to Otuocha Area Command, Anambra East Local Government Area of…
Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, say they are finding it difficult to…
Following an investigative hearing on the $2 billion renewable energy grants and investments in Nigeria,…
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail of N10…
This website uses cookies.