A combined photo of IGP Olukayode Adeolu and FIJ logo
By Abdullahi Abubakar
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate sanction of the head of a police unit implicated in the controversial arrest of Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.
Recall that the journalist’s wife and nine-month-old child were allegedly used as bait to lure him for arrest.
The incident occurred on Monday when officers from the IGP Monitoring Unit reportedly detained Atanda’s wife, Adenike, and their infant at a location in Ikorodu, Lagos.
According to FIJ, the police compelled Adenike to call her husband under the pretence that their child was ill and needed hospital attention.
When Atanda arrived, he was handcuffed and taken to the Force Headquarters in Obalende.
FIJ founder and editor-in-chief, Fisayo Soyombo, confirmed the arrest and subsequent release on X, stating that the arrest stemmed from an investigative report by Atanda.
Atanda was released shortly before midnight on Monday along with his family, sparking public outrage over police conduct and press freedom.
Police Force spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin said that the IGP Egbetokun was “miffed” upon learning of the arrest through the International Press Institute (IPI).
“I was with the IG last night when Mojeed Musikilu of the International Press Institute reached out to me about the arrest. I promptly informed the IGP, and he was miffed
“He directed that the head of the unit be contacted to release the journalist immediately. I updated Mojeed accordingly,” Hundeyin said.
He emphasised that the IGP ordered the journalist’s immediate release and sanctioned the unit head.
“The IGP was particularly angry that this came up at a time when the Police had pledged and are taking tangible steps to ensure press freedom. He equally ordered that the head of that unit be sanctioned for his conduct.
“IGP Egbetokun does not want and would not condone any setback to our support for press freedom,” Hundeyin added.
Meanwhile, FIJ said the journalist’s arrest is because of a story on how Adeyemi Awoyinfa, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Legend Adex Immigration Consult, refused to refund £15,000 he collected in November 2023 from a UK-based Nigerian who wanted two certificates of sponsorship (CoS) for two of his family friends, after failing to deliver.
