The police in Abuja have detained Mustapha Isiaka,  a journalist and publisher of Press Gallery.He was detained after honouring an invitation to appear at the Force headquarters today.It was well known by Tuesday evening that Mustapha had been invited by the police for questioning by the police.But what many thought might be a brief encounter turned out into an arrest and  detention by the force headquarters over a story on  Mohammed Adoke, the attorney general of the federation and minister of Justice.

The Nigeria Union of Journalist,NUJ in a statement signed by Mustapha Usman Leman  today expressed its shock and  dismay over the event and called  for the immediate release of Mustapha Isiaka.

In a statement from  its the National Secretariat, the  NUJ ``  advises the Attorney General ,or whoever ordered the invitation and arrest in the first instance , to immediately set Mustapha Isiaka free and go  to a court of competent jurisdiction ,if still aggrieved  by the story in question.’’

The full text of the NUJ Press statement signed by Leman reads``The national secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Is shocked  and dismayed at the illegal invitation, and detention of Mustapha Isiaka , a journalist  and publisher of Press Gallery weekly newspaper.

``Information at our disposal suggests that his ordeal may not be unconnected with a front-page  promo of s atory in November 2-14,2010 edition of the paper  published in Abuja , captioned Mega Bribe:Like Aondoakaa, Like Adoke?

``The NUJ is thoroughly disappointed by the suggestion that Nigeria’s number one law officer, the Attorney-General  and Minister of Justice , could resort to using the police to harass and intimidate a journalist, whereas a past  president and military Head of state could both go to court of competent jurisdiction over such an issue.

``We hereby call on the Inspector General of Police not to allow the Police to become a ready tool in the hands of intolerant political office holders ,especially as we approach the 2011 general elections in which the media in particular and Nigerians in general  are expected to play active roles to ensure a free, fair and credible results.

``The NUJ therefore advises the Attorney-General ,or whoever ordered the invitation and arrest in the first instance , to immediately set Mustapha Isiaka free and go to  a court  of competent jurisdiction , if still aggrieved by the story in question’’

Comments:

Eunice Igbode:When is all this mess going to stop in Nigeria? So a journalist cannot notify the people of Nigeria what is going on.M.A BELLO should go to court and prove his innocence instead of using power against a journalist.