TheCable

Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of Premium Times, and Evelyn Okakwu, judiciary correspondent of the newspaper, reported to FCT police command on Friday, and were released on bail.

Premium Times confirmed the development in a tweet, saying no charges were filed against them.

UPDATE: Premium Times journalists @DapsyOly and @EveOkakwu have been released on bail again. No charges were filed. #pressfreedom

— Premium Times (@PremiumTimesng) January 20, 2017

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The duo were arrested on Thursday, over a report that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was investigating Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, for allegations of corruption.

They were released after several hours, but told to report at 8am on Friday to “fulfill bail conditions”.

Osuagwu Ugochukwu, counsel to Buratai, had petitioned the police over an alleged “false and malicious story” written by the newspaper.

Buratai had said the story received wide readership, and created bad image for him. The army subsequently demanded an apology from Premium Times, and asked the online publication to withdraw the report.

But Premium Times stood by its story, vowing not to be intimidated. The newspaper in turn, asked the army to apologise.

Responding to the raid on Premium Times headquarters, Musikilu Mojeed, editor-in-chief of the online publication, advised Buratai to go to court if he felt he had been defamed.

“We condemn this. It is an attack on press freedom,” Mojeed said.

“The army should stop deluding themselves that they can muzzle the press. Our loyalty lies with the people. We are not intimidated.

“The police came to our office because the chief of army staff complained that we defamed him. If he feels we have defamed him, he should go to court, and not raid a newspaper.”

Amnesty International had condemned the arrest.