Nigerian Journalist Rejects Forced Apology, Claims Torture In Police Custody

A Lagos-based journalist, Azuka Ogujiuba, has raised alarm over her treatment by the police, saying she was forced to sign an apology letter while in detention.

The publisher of Media Room Hub claimed she was subjected to intimidation, harassment and physical torture during her arrest.

The case began after a report she published on a court matter involving Ikenna Jideofor and Adewale Oladapo, also known as Biggie. According to her, more than ten other media outlets carried the same story, yet she was the only one arrested and accused of cyber bullying and defamation.

Ogujiuba said she spent three days in police custody without food and with no access to her phone, leaving her family and colleagues unaware of her whereabouts. She accused police officers of compelling her to write an apology under pressure, admitting to false claims she insists she never made.

The apology letter, which surfaced after her release, stated that her report caused reputational damage. Ogujiuba has now disowned the statement, saying it was written under duress and does not reflect her position.

Her ordeal has drawn public concern, with media rights advocates questioning the role of the police in handling the matter. They argue that if she truly committed an offence, due legal process should have been followed rather than intimidation.

The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute has also reacted, describing the treatment of the journalist as harassment aimed at silencing the press. The group urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to step in and allow the courts to decide the case.

The controversy has once again brought press freedom and the safety of journalists into public debate. Advocates say the case serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by reporters in the course of their work, especially when powerful interests are involved.