TheCable

On Monday, operatives of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) arrested both Daniel and Timothy Elombah, publisher and editor of elombah.com.

The publisher was later released but told not to travel outside Abuja.

Subsequently, the police filed an exparte motion seeking to remand Timothy for 14 days before charges are filed against him but the court approved only seven days.

The police are yet to state the reason for their arrest but documents filed at the court against Timothy has a printed copy of an article entitled ‘IGP Ibrahim Idris’s unending baggage of controversies’ as exhibit.

The article which was written by one Ebiowei Dickson said the IGP “has shuffled from one avoidable controversy to another, mostly due to his impulsive nature and gross incompetence”.

“In this vein, postings of Squadron Commanders and contracts in the police are now influenced by DSP Astha,” it read in part.

“A case in point is the recent removal and subsequent reversal of some Mobile Commanders in Lagos and some other viable Squadrons.

It is said that the inspector-general of police found the article “offensive” and “defamatory.”

The motion dated January 2 and filed at the court by Malik Taiwo, a police officer in the tactical squad of the force headquarters, explained that they want Tim in custody so that they can complete their investigation.

“An order of this honourable court remanding the defendant/respondent’s to police custody for a period of 14 days in other to complete investigation, and filing of a formal charge against him,” the motion read.

“B And for such order, or further orders as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.”

Also, Emmanuel Oyeneho, another police officer in the investigation section of tactical squad, deposed an affidavit in support of the motion.

Oyeneho told the court that he was the officer assigned to investigate the allegation against the IGP.

“That I am one the police officer assigned to investigate the criminal allegation against the respondent of having reasonably suspected to have committed some criminal offences of conspiracy to wit defamatory of an injurious falsehood, and attempt to further commit an indictable offence i.e felony to wit aiding and abetting of inciting disturbance,” it read.

“That l have the consent of the complainant/applicant to depose to this affidavit in support of motion ex parte.”