Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Global upfront Newspapers, Mr. Madu Onuorah, was abducted from his residence by the Nigerian Police on Wednesday evening, May 22, 2024, has regained his freedom.

“We have confirmed the release (on bail) of our Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Madu Onuorah who was abducted by men of the Ebonyi Police Command on Wednesday 22/5/2024 evening from his residence in Lugbe, Abuja. He was released late Thursday, 23/5/2024, night by Enugu State Police Command who requested the Ebonyi Police to abduct him for them. We are awaiting a full briefing by Mr. Onuorah and our lawyers before issuing a full statement on this matter and the next line of action. We solidly stand by our Editor-in-Chief and the harmless story we published. We insist the police station is not a court of law where alleged defamation cases are tried,” the paper’s Management said this Friday morning in a terse statement.

The Police Command in Enugu State had on Thursday said that Mr Madu Onuorah was arrested over alleged defamatory publication against a US-based Reverend Sister.

A statement issued by the Command’s Spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said: “The Enugu State Police Command is in receipt of several publications alleging the abduction of an Abuja-based online news publisher, one Madu Onuorah.

“The Command wishes to state that, contrary to the allegations, he was duly arrested in Abuja with the assistance of police operatives from Ebonyi State Police Command and the aid of intelligence, after efforts made to formally invite him failed.”

He explained that Onuorah’s arrest followed the receipt of a written petition to the Commissioner of Police in Enugu state command, against him, over an alleged defamatory publication he made against a US-based Reverend Sister.

Ndukwe said that the CP, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, had ordered the office handling the case to professionally investigate and ensure that justice prevails.

“The commissioner called on the press family, particularly the leadership and members of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and associates of the suspect, to exercise patience.

“He also assured that the needful will be done in the case,” he added.

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