Daily Times: IGP orders withdrawal of cases against Anosikes, 5 workers

*Orders investigation on Sen. Obiora, DIG Dagala , DSTV boss, others

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, on Friday ordered the withdrawal of all cases against the Chairman of Folio Media Group (FMG), publisher of The Daily Times, Mr Fidelis Anosike, the Group Managing Director,
Bar Noel Anosike and five members of staff of the heritage newspaper.

The IGP also ordered a full scale investigation into the DTN incident and illegal conduct of Senator Ikechukwu Obiora in connivance with DIG Hycent Dagala alongside ACP Njoku and SP Elizabeth Eze.

Obiora had in an attempt to acquire properties belonging to the DTN through fraudulent means, engaged the police to arrest Mr Fidelis Anosike and Noel Anosike. The police thereafter arraigned the Anosikes before a Magistrates’ Court in Mpape, a suburb of Abuja while the court refused to grant them bail. But an Abuja High Court later granted bail to the Anosikes and berated the magistrate court for refusing to grant bail when the police did not raise objection to the application.

After invading the Abuja office, some police officers, at the instance of Obiora, also invaded the DTN complex in Agidingbi, Ikeja where they ransacked, carted away documents including computers, laptops, generator and other valuable equipment.

Read Also: Daily Times: Sen. Obiora on the run as IGP orders arrest

The police also arrested five members of staff of DTN: Tinuola Ashiru, (Assistant Manager, Human Resources) Ayodele Ibitoye, (Accountant) Afolabi Adeboye, ( Graphics Designer) Marvelous Eyoh Effiong (Graphics Designer) and James Akingbade Olagoke (Advert Officer).

They were later detained at the SARS office in Ikeja where they spent the night. The DTN workers were thereafter driven from Lagos to Abuja by road and were later locked up with criminals at Area 10 Police Station, Abuja for seven days without been charged to court.

Meanwhile, following directives from the IGP for the immediate withdrawal of the cases, the police in a notice of discontinuance dated February 2, 2018, urged the Registrar of the Magistrates’ Court to take a judicial notice of the withdrawal of case no. CR,10/2018: Between the IGP vs Fidelis Anosike and Noel Anosike.

The letter of discontinuance addressed to the Registrar, Chief Magistrates’ Court, Mpape, Abuja also sought the withdrawal of case no. CR,10/2018: Between the IGP vs Ayodele Olaleke and 4 ors as well as the withdrawal of motion No: MN/11/2018:between the IGP vs Fidelis Anosike and Another.

The IGP, who was very displeased with the conduct of the police in the whole saga, expressed shock that the DIG Dagala could arrest, detain and arraign The Daily Times publisher and five DTN workers without his consent.
The police boss, who could not hide his anger, also ordered full investigation of the roles played by the police officers and men involved in the matter.

In the meantime, Senator Obiora has abandoned his Abuja residence, following an order by the IGP for his arrest after his illegal actions against the Anosikes and 5 DTN workers.

Incidentally, the whereabouts of Sen Obiora has remained unknown since his fraudulent activities have been exposed.