Governor Darius Ishaku has been accused of sponsoring the unjust arrest and detention of Taraba-based journalist Ayodele Samuel Oloye, reports say.

Reports say Mr Oloye, lead editor of Taraba Truth and Facts newspaper, is being prosecuted for his report exposing governor Ishaku’s plan to sell the Taraba liaison office. 

Mr Oloye had earlier gotten wind of the governor’s plan to effect his arrest, prompting him to release a statement to his journalists colleagues on September 30. 

“The Taraba State Government is angry with some of our reports, specifically over a report where he stated that Governor Darius Ishaku had “plans to sell the Taraba liaison office,” he said. 

He was arrested hours after making the statement and secretly arraigned before the State High Court in Taraba without due process and legal representation and thereafter remanded in detention where he is being held without access to his lawyers or family members. 

Following his arrest, human rights activist, Bako Benjamin, in a statement condemned Mr Oloye’s arrest and a reported plan by the governor to further develop a legal framework for the repression of the press and intimidation of journalists.