IGP Sanctions Police Unit Head Over Arrest Of FIJ Journalist

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the sanction of the head of a police unit for the arrest of Sodeeq Atanda, a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Wednesday, December 24, following public outcry over the arrest and the reported detention of Atanda’s wife and nine-month-old child.

Atanda was arrested on Monday by operatives of the IGP Monitoring Unit, while his wife, Adenike, and their infant were reportedly detained for several hours at a location in Ikorodu, Lagos, allegedly to compel the journalist to surrender himself.

Reacting via his X handle, Hundeyin stated that the IGP was unhappy that the incident occurred at a time when the Nigeria Police Force had committed to upholding press freedom and had ordered disciplinary action against the unit head involved.

“The IGP (Inspector General of Police) was particularly angry that this came up at a time when the Police had pledged and are taking tangible steps to ensure press freedom. He equally ordered that the head of that unit be sanctioned for his conduct.

“IGP Egbetokun does not want and would not condone any setback to our support for press freedom.”

Hundeyin further stated that the IGP became aware of the arrest through the International Press Institute (IPI) and immediately directed the journalist’s release.

“Inasmuch as you might want your depiction of the IGP to be true, it isn’t. I was with him last night when Mojeed Musikilu of the International Press Institute (IPI) reached out to me about the arrest. I promptly informed the IGP, and he was miffed. You might choose to believe I am making this up, but it is the truth.

“He (IGP) directed that the head of the unit be contacted to release the journalist immediately. I updated Mojeed accordingly.”

He reiterated that Atanda was released on the IGP’s directive and that the head of the unit involved had been sanctioned.

FIJ had earlier said Atanda’s arrest was connected to a news report on the alleged refusal of Adeyemi Awoyinfa, Chief Executive Officer of Legend Adex Immigration Consult, to refund £15,000 collected in November 2023 from a UK-based Nigerian after failing to deliver two Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

The International Press Institute Nigeria, through its President, Mojeed Musikilu, had also called for the immediate release of the journalist.