A senior magistrates' court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja has discharged African Independent Television journalist, Amaechi Anakwe, in a case of alleged character defamation brought against him by the Nigeria Police Force. Mbu had on Thursday ordered Anakwe’s arrest after inviting him to his office. Anakwe was accused of describing the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Zone 7, Abuja, Mr. Joseph Mbu, as “controversial.”
Anakwue's discharge by the magistrate, Anthony Ogboi, was sequel to an application by the prosecution to withdraw the case from court. In discharging the journalist, Judge Ogboi said that the case had been struck out and ordered the accused not be arrested for the same offence again.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Chijioke Okeizie, had applied for withdrawal of the matter without mentioning the First Information Report, FIR, in open court. He told the court that the reason for the withdrawal of the case was “best known to the nominal complainant.” At that, counsel to Mr. Anakwue, Nwoke Kalu, prayed the court to grant the accused protection against further arrest on the same offence. The magistrate granted the withdrawal application and plea of the accused and discharged him accordingly.
When has describing one as 'controversial' become an offence?
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