Dare Babalola
Journalist and founder of Media Room Hub, Azuka Ogujiuba, has narrated the ordeals she faced for three days in detention of the Nigerian Police Force.
The newsman, who was yet to recover from the shock of harassment she suffered from the officers, told journalists that her trials reflected the abuse of police power.
Ogujiuba was detained for three days over the publication of a court injunction on her Instagram page.
She said, “Lots of journalists have been detained unlawfully for doing nothing. You will never understand until it happens to you.
“I got a letter from the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Office, inviting me. I went there on August 6, the people in charge of the case were Moses Jolugbo and Ifeoma Ogoli. I have high regards for the police, and I respect the constitution, that was why I went.
“It was Adewale Oladapo that petitioned against me for cyberbullying and defamation of character. They showed me my Instagram page (media-hub), where I published a court injunction.
“I told them what I published was not cyberbullying but a court injunction. I told them that I didn’t write it, but the court approved it and that I am not the only media that published it and that close to 20 media houses published it. I asked, ‘Why am I the only one being petitioned?’ They asked me to get a surety, and I left.
“Two days later, I was in the office for an exclusive interview when the two police officers who interrogated me the other day showed up. They chased me like a terrorist, harassed me, and dragged my phone. Even the person that I interviewed thought they were kidnappers. They took me to their office, for almost 45 minutes, they didn’t say anything. They later confronted me that I didn’t bring down the court injunction that I published.
“I was traumatised. I couldn’t sleep. I am sure the IGP is not aware that such a thing is happening in his office. Misused authority was used on me. They are giving the Nigerian police a bad name.
“I know that my detention was orchestrated by Moses Jolugbo and Ifeoma Ogoli. The policemen pointed guns at me, and I had no choice but to obey.
“I asked to speak to my family or my lawyer, but they refused and locked me in the cell for three days without food. I don’t know how I survived it.”
