The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested one of the reporters of ReporteraNews, Chike Victor Ibezim for publishing false news about a former minster and governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola.
How The DSS Arrested ReporteraNews Editor
The CEO of ReporteraNews, Nnamdi Ibezim, had announced that his brother Chike was arrested in his stead when the DSS came around but met his brother.
Narrating the ordeal, Nnamdi explained further:
This arrest took place after a petition was filed against the CEO by Fashola because of the news Reportera ‘reported’.
The DSS officials came with the intention to arrest the CEO, upon meeting his absence, they took his brother.
Why Reportera Publisher Was Arrested By DSS
The arrest is coming on the heels that the news platform had shared information that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was allegedly writing the judgment to be delivered by the judges of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) on the 2023 presidential election.
The blog in their defence had called the piece of information rumour and also said it was already in the public domain before sharing the news.
The news was reported to have been published across social media by one Jackson Ude, Yoruba Sheikh and Reportera.
Turn-out of Events Before The DSS Arrest
Days before the arrest, Fashola has petitioned the IGP, DSS and NCC Over the matter.
A statement issued by an aide to the former governor, Adebola also explained further that:
“In response to the allegation, Fashola clarified that he has been away from Abuja for an extended period of time, rendering the claims entirely unfounded.
“The former minister believes that these allegations may be part of a wider campaign to undermine the judiciary by those who seek to manipulate the institution for their own gain.
“He emphasises the importance of unmasking the perpetrators and their sponsors and ensuring that they face the appropriate legal consequences.”
While contacts were said to have been made to the publisher of the blog by some persons to retract the news, he had fumed and labelled each person’s on the matter and even when his identity was said to be revealed, he claimed they are in the public and never hiding his identity.
LOL, let me help you tag @OfficialDSSNG since they are now the law enforcement in charge of civil cases. The phone number and address of @ReporteraNews is on the website and myself the CEO have NEVER hidden my identity.
Again I tell you, your bile will be the end of you💀 https://t.co/7bU9mi8EKw
— Iruefi XXL (@IruefiNG) August 9, 2023
You exposed what face behind what? Investigative journalist isonu 😂😂😂. Show any single post that was deleted and walk away with 100k per deleted post, you should have screenshots. You're celebrating a faux victory made from the fragments of your deluded imagination. Clowns. https://t.co/50gMtQkazm
— Iruefi XXL (@IruefiNG) August 8, 2023
This idi0t keeps thinking he's doing damage to me but doesn't realize he's propelling me to greater heights LMAO, well, I can't complain. God will continue to shame your unfortunate dark soul. Investigative journalist, Mr provider💀
Let me help you tag them again @OfficialDSSNG https://t.co/7bU9mi8EKw
— Iruefi XXL (@IruefiNG) August 9, 2023
Please what is this fake news? show it to me and point out the fake part after reading carefully, be quick about it ⏰ https://t.co/oF8YlIUBPC
— Iruefi XXL (@IruefiNG) August 9, 2023
You uncovered an identity that was never hidden? What level of buffoonery are you on? Abeg shift 😂😂😂, clown ass mofo https://t.co/QFxNGaD504
— Iruefi XXL (@IruefiNG) August 9, 2023
LOL, let me help you tag @OfficialDSSNG since they are now the law enforcement in charge of civil cases. The phone number and address of @ReporteraNews is on the website and myself the CEO have NEVER hidden my identity.
Again I tell you, your bile will be the end of you💀 https://t.co/7bU9mi8EKw
— Iruefi XXL (@IruefiNG) August 9, 2023
ReporteraNews Reactions After The DSS Arrest
The blog through the owner the emphasised that it did not make a false accusation in the article and did not welcome the “defamaton” & “cyber-stalking” petition written against the media company by Fashola.
The statement reads:
It is important to note that Reportera did not make a false allegation in the article against the former minister, as we only reported what was already in the media and even called it a “rumour”.
ReporteraNews On President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
In another news, the media platform maintained that they do not recognize Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s President.
A statement pinned to the account of the blog on it’s twitter social media account reads:
The management of Reportera Media Resources, owners of Reportera News Nigeria has watched with dismay the many occurrences in Nigeria within the last few months, especially the activities prior, during, and after the presidential elections, and it has come to a point that we take a definitive stand in the scheme of things as a media house that preaches and advocates for the tenets of democracy.
Reportera News Nigeria was part of the accredited local observers of the 2023 presidential election and our reporters and agents where spread across various parts of the country to get a first hand incident report on the electioneering process. The eventual outcome of the election was a shocker to us and other reputable media houses locally and internationally as INEC went against its own laws, despite overwhelming evidence showing that the election was flawed, to declare the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the election and was subsequently sworn in as Nigeria’s president on the 29th May 2023.
We are an organization with integrity and we will be doing ourselves and Nigerians a great disservice if we don’t tell the truth and the truth is very clear; Ahmed Bola Tinubu did not win the 2023 presidential election thus it will be an aberration of the constitution to address him as the president and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Feb 25th presidential election is currently being challenged in court by two parties and until a final verdict is passed by the Nigeria Supreme Court, we will NOT be addressing Bola Ahmed Tinubu or any individual as ‘Mr President’ or ‘President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’. Therefore, whilst the INEC declared president, Mr Tinubu occupies this exalted position in the mean time, we shall accord every respect due the office of the president but shall refrain from addressing him as ‘President Tinubu’, not until the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirms his position.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings