Police Summon Premium Times Journalist Over Unpublished Story on Land Dispute

In a recent development, the Nigerian Police Force's Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja has summoned Emmanuel Agbo, a journalist with Premium Times, over a yet-to-be-published story. The invitation letter was issued on May 31, 2024, and relates to a land dispute involving Homadils Realty Limited.

Agbo received the invitation letter via WhatsApp on June 3, 2024, after initially being contacted by phone on May 30, 2024, by an officer named Ezemba Ezekiel. The letter requested Agbo's presence at the IRT Complex in Abuja on June 5, 2024, at 2 p.m.

The story Agbo is working on involves a land dispute between Homadils Realty Limited, a property developer, and a local family. Agbo had reached out to Homadils' CEO, Bilkisu Aliu, for her reaction to the allegations leveled against her company by the family claiming ownership of the disputed land.

Why this matters: This incident highlights the growing concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in Nigeria, which can have a chilling effect on investigative journalism and the ability of the media to hold those in power accountable. If left unchecked, it could lead to a decline in the quality of reporting and the ability of citizens to access accurate information.

In response to the police invitation, Premium Times wrote a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, IRT, on June 3, 2024, stating: "We have received a letter from you to our reporter, Agbo Emmanuel, in which you invited him to appear before you on 05/06/2024 at your office at 'IRT Complex, Old Abbatoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja'."

The letter continued: "We, Premium Times, are an online newspaper dedicated to using investigative journalism to hold power accountable and deepen democracy as enshrined in Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution... We ask that you provide more details of the petition to enable our reporter, Mr Agbo, to make adequate preparations and bring along relevant materials when he appears in your office."

This incident is part of a recent trend of police targeting journalists for doing their legitimate work in Nigeria. In a similar case, the police detained two journalists from the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) for over nine hours. Other journalists, including Daniel Ojukwu from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), have also faced police harassment.

Premium Times has assured the police of their readiness to support the investigation but emphasized the need for more details about the petition to ensure a productive meeting. The Managing Editor, Idris Akinbajo, wrote: "We are thus always ready to assist law enforcement agencies in the course of their professional duties."

As Emmanuel Agbo prepares to appear before the police on June 5, 2024, the journalism community closely watches the situation, reflecting broader concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in Nigeria.

Key Takeaways

• Nigerian police summon journalist Emmanuel Agbo over yet-to-be-published story on land dispute.
• Agbo received invitation letter via WhatsApp on June 3, 2024, to appear at IRT Complex on June 5.
• The story involves a land dispute between Homadils Realty Limited and a local family.
• Premium Times demands more details about the petition, citing concerns over press freedom.
• Incident highlights growing concerns about police targeting journalists in Nigeria.