SubNews Magazine petitions IGP over harassment by NEPZA

The Editor-in-Chief of the SubNews Magazine, Mr. Tony Christian has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, over the use of Police to harass and intimidate members of staff of SubNews Magazine by the Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Mr. Gbenga Kuye.

In a letter of petition written to the IGP dated 26^th October, 2015 and made available to Peoples Daily yesterday in Abuja, Tony Christian said they are been harassed by Gbenga Kuye over the magazine’s investigation into his alleged involvement in Five Hundred Million Naira Calabar Free Trade Zone contract scam.

He said the action of the NEPZA boss was ultimately to suppress the investigation into an alleged misappropriation of the internally generated revenue collected from General Electric by the agency.

“While I am demanding for a written apology over my arrest of 2^nd October, 2015, by the agency in the course of discharging my constitutional duty as journalist, I wish to bring to your notice an alleged standing order issued by the MD to arrest and detain any member of staff of SubNews Magazine who is found in or around the premises of NEPZA.

“In addition to this, I wish to commend the Divisional Police Officer of Maitama Police Division, where I was taken, for exhibiting highest level of professionalism in refusing to succumb to a premeditated attempt by the MD and his cohort Mr. Richard Obianu, a senior manager (MDO), of the agency to use their position to suppress the media, circumvent probity, accountability and transparency in the agency”, he stated.