World Press writes Nigerian government over Tukur Mamu’s travails

Mallam Mamu has been in a long running battle with authorities who he has accused of ploting to assassinate him and invade his office in a letter to the Inspector General of police last year. Mamu has been arrested three times within the last one year and is reportedly in hiding. He was arrested in […]

Mallam Mamu has been in a long running battle with authorities who he has accused of ploting to assassinate him and invade his office in a letter to the Inspector General of police last year. Mamu has been arrested three times within the last one year and is reportedly in hiding.

He was arrested in Kaduna earlier this month by the police force and paraded before a court in Bauchi for libel. He was released on bail and the police reportedly attempted to arrest him again on new charges. This attempt was resisted by lawyers who demanded an arrest warrant. He has since been in hiding for fear of being re-arrested.

“We are seriously concerned that Mr Turkur was arrested because of his newspaper’s reporting of a story involving a state Governor,” the organisations, which represent the world’s press, said in a letter to President Umaru Yar’Adua. “Mr Tukur has been arrested three times in the past year and is now reportedly in hiding.”

WAN-IFRA called on President Yar’Adua to ensure that the charges against Mr Tukur are immediately dropped and that all intimidation of journalists is halted. WAN-IFRA also urged the President to ensure that “Nigeria fully decriminalises libel and replaces current legislation with a civil remedy of reasonable and appropriate damages.”