Nigerian journalists Elias Abayomi Adagunduro and Abraham Adaranijo face police summons over investigative reports, raising press freedom concerns

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Headquarters, Lagos, has summoned two Nigerian journalists, Elias Abayomi Adagunduro of Newsconnect Online and Abraham Adaranijo of ClipTV Online, over investigative reports published on their platforms.

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The invitation, issued under the guise of a “fact-finding exercise,” raises concerns about press freedom and state-backed intimidation of journalists.

The controversy stems from two syndicated articles published on 19th February 2025. Newsconnect Online released a report titled “Forgery, Double Standards, and the Nigerian Judicial Circus: A Case Study in Impunity,” while ClipTV Online published “Selective Justice: Alleged Fraudster Evades Police, Demands Travel Expenses.”

Both reports called for law enforcement and FirstBank Trustees to investigate an alleged forgery case involving Dr. Femi Olaleye and his estranged wife, Aderemi Fagbemi Olaleye.

The article alleged that Aderemi, upon receiving a police invitation for questioning, requested the police cover her travel expenses— a privilege not extended to Afro-hip-hop artist Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, in his legal troubles.

Following the publication, Aderemi Olaleye, through her lawyers, issued a Cease and Desist letter demanding the articles be taken down within seven days.

In response, both platforms revised their content, issued an apology for certain word choices, and reaffirmed the evidence-based nature of their reports while refusing to remove them entirely.

Aderemi Olaleye later claimed in an Independent Newspaper interview that her former husband had launched a media smear campaign against her after a court ruling favoured a peaceful settlement regarding their children and property.

She alleged that:

Her husband petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), accusing her of document forgery.
The police invited her to Abuja for questioning, but she declined, arguing that the case was already in court.
She requested that the police fund her travel, citing childcare responsibilities.
Online reports misrepresented her situation, pairing her image with Portable’s in an attempt to suggest she was evading justice.

She further stated that she had filed a petition with the IGP against the journalists and her estranged husband for defamation.

The police summons of Adagunduro and Adaranijo is seen as an attempt to suppress investigative journalism and violate press freedom.

Nigeria’s Section 39 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the press.

Furthermore, the country is a signatory to international conventions protecting journalists from intimidation.

Yet, this case highlights how state security institutions are often used to harass the press rather than uphold justice.

Instead of engaging in dialogue or seeking legal redress for perceived defamation, the involvement of law enforcement suggests an effort to silence critical reporting.

If anyone feels defamed by a publication, the proper recourse is the legal system—not the police.

Using security agencies to settle personal disputes sets a dangerous precedent for media independence.

The following actions are necessary to uphold press freedom in Nigeria:

The Inspector General of Police must ensure that the police are not used as private enforcers for defamation claims.
Civil society organisations and press freedom groups must hold authorities accountable and advocate for journalist protection.
The Nigerian public should resist such oppressive tactics and stand in solidarity with journalists committed to investigative reporting.

Press freedom is the foundation of democracy.