The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime to immediately release Peoples Gazette editor John Adenekan or face legal action.

In a tweet via its official Twitter handle on Friday, the rights group demanded the unconditional release of the editor.

“The Buhari administration must immediately and unconditionally release Peoples Gazette’s editor, John Adenekan, who was reportedly arrested today by the police following a raid on their office in Abuja. We’ll take legal action if he is not immediately released,” SERAP said in the tweet.

The Gazette had earlier reported that Mr Adenekan, an assistant managing editor, was taken away at about 12:35 p.m. by five armed police officers who broke into the paper’s office opposite NNPC Quarters in Utako.

The officers had asked to see managing editor Samuel Ogundipe and reporter Adefemola Akintade. They informed Mr Adenekan that the arrest was in relation to our June 23 story in which the anti-graft agency, ICPC, raided the home of former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai and recovered cash and luxury items.

Following the unavailability of both journalists during the raid, the police officers arrested Mr Adenekan in their place, continuing an unconstitutional practice of arresting associates in the absence of persons of interest.

The officers returned to the office to arrest four other staff members, Ameedat Adeyemi, Grace Oke, Sammy Ogbu and Justina Tayani.