By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Publisher of 247UREPORTS (www.247ureports.com), Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, has been arrested by police, working on the instruction of the former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Willie Obiano, Mr. Primus Odili.

The Anambra-born, Abuja-based media practitioner was said to have been arrested by policemen in mufti at about 12:43pm yesterday, Tuesday, July 5, 2022, and whisked away.

A family source who spoke on condition of anonymity said Ezenekwe was arrested over an alleged unfavorable story he wrote about Mr. Primus Odili.

While saying that the policemen initially refused to explain the reasons behind his arrest, the source said: “They only told him that there was a petition against him without telling him who or where the petition came from.

“They took him to Police Headquarters at Louis Edet House, Area II, Abuja; and it was there they disclosed to him that the petition was from Anambra and from Primus Odili (former Chief of Staff to Obiano) for a libelous publication, citing a story he (Ezenekwe) wrote and published on 13th May, this year.”

According to the source, the online publisher was later transferred to Maitama Police Station, Abuja.

He said that Obiano’s former aide believed that it was his enemies in the Anambra Government House that told Ezenekwe to write the story, hence he insisted on the mention of the names of the people behind the story.

He added: “They (police) said they know the people who told him to write the story, but they want him to mention their names by himself; and insisted that they would continue to detain him until he mentions the names/source.

“Before his arrest, Ezenekwe was seriously sick. He has not taken his medication since yesterday (Tuesday). We call for the urgent intervention by relevant authorities to secure his release from the police cell, as he is being unjustly tormented, intimidated and tortured.”