Presidency defends arrest of Leadership journalists

 

 The presidency said the police did not do anything wrong by investigating the Leadership Newspapers on its story on a presidential directive allegedly targeted at the opposition elements.

Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity Ruben Abati said this in a statement yesterday.

He noted that his boss did not have to issue any orders before the police see the need to act in the public interest.

“The Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) was signed by this president into law and under this government, the Nigerian print and electronic media has grown in number, reach and in terms of freedom to practice,” he said.

“The circulation of a fictitious ‘presidential directive’ that seeks in the main to cause civil strife, engender a breakdown of law and order, and negate the values of our democracy is a very grievous act indeed that should not be ignored.

“In that regard, President Jonathan did not have to issue any orders before those who have as much constitutional responsibility as the media; that is, the police, see the need to act in the public interest,” he said.

“The Leadership newspaper should see this as an opportunity to co-operate with the police as required by the laws of the land.  The police have not done anything outside the law. The trite rule is that nobody is above the laws of the land. It is also within the powers of the police to invite persons for questioning and to conduct investigations, which was what they have done so far in the Leadership case.”

“Or are the editors of the Leadership newspaper insisting that they are above the laws of the land?” he said.