TheCable

Femi Adesina, spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, says Bashir Abubakar, chief security officer (CSO), did not consult the media office before he expelled Olalekan Adetayo, PUNCH’s state house correspondent, from Aso Rock.

On Monday, the reporter was reportedly expelled for writing reports considered to be “uncomplimentary” to the Buhari administration.

But in series of tweets, Adesina said his principal is committed to press freedom and an amicable solution would be found to the matter.

He said the Buhari administration would not muzzle the media in anyway.

“We weren’t consulted in the media office by the CSO before he expelled The PUNCH reporter. President Buhari is committed to press freedom,” Adesina tweeted.

“An amicable solution would be found to The Punch reporter matter. President Buhari does not intend to muzzle the media in any way.”

We weren't consulted in the media office by the CSO before he expelled The Punch reporter. President Buhari is committed to press freedom.

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— Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) April 24, 2017

An amicable solution would be found to The Punch reporter matter. President Buhari does not intend to muzzle the media in any way.

— Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) April 24, 2017

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In its report, Punch said Abubakar had earlier summoned Adetayo to his office and questioned him on two reports – titled ‘Seat of power’s event centres going into extinction’ and “Fresh anxiety in Aso Rock over Buhari’s poor health” published on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

After questioning him, the CSO then directed that his accreditation tag be withdrawn and the he should be escorted out of the villa.

On Thursday, Abubakar held an interactive session with the state house journalists where he handed out new guidelines on how they will report the villa.