Publisher of 247ureports.com, Mr Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, has cried out, expressing fears for his life following almost ten days of detention without trial by the Nigeria Police over a complaint by a private citizen.

Ellis-Ezenekwe has yet to see the light of day since he was allegedly abducted at an event in the morning of July 5, 2021 by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) monitoring team over an article published on the website.

“Although the Police never formally invited him, he was immediately arrested and taken to the national police headquarters in Asokoro where he was interrogated in the absence of his lawyer.

“Since his arrest by men from the IGP monitoring team, he has remained in incarceration and has not been charged to court. This is unlawful and an infringement of his fundamental rights,” according to the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN) in a statement issued on Wednesday.

News Express traced Mr. Ellis-Ezenekwe to the Maitama police cell in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. During the brief encounter on Thursday, the embattled journalist expressed shock that he has been held without trial for almost ten day contrary to the constitutional requirement that nobody should be held for more than 24 hours without being charged to court.

“I pray to come out of this place alive to let the world know of my ordeal but Nigerians should hold the Police and Chief Primus Odili responsible if I die in detention,” Ellis- Ezenekwe, who has a history of High Blood Pressure and heart problems, said during the brief encounter.

News Express learnt that the polie are framing charges of alleged cyber stalking, libel and threat to life to be slammed on the embattled journalist.

According to OPN, “A former chief of staff to the former governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano, Chief Primus Odili, who recently failed in his senatorial bid on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), petitioned the IGP monitoring team to arrest and detain Mr. Ezenekwe claiming the article on him was libelous.

“OPAN gathered authoritatively that Chief Odili has tasked the IGP monitoring team to unmask the source of the article, which Ezeneke has declined to identify citing confidentiality and privilege between journalists and news sources.

“We find it disturbing and unacceptable that the police could allow a citizen to use it to intimidate a journalist.

“The police have continued to intimidate and coerce Ezenekwe demanding to know the source of his story. This is wrong. Is the police above the laws of the land?

“The police have continued to intimidate and coerce Ezenekwe demanding to know the source of his story. This is wrong. Is the police above the laws of the land?

“OPAN hereby calls on the police to immediately release Mr. Ezenekwe and apologise to him for his unlawful incarceration.”