The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) said its Executive Director, Dayo Aiyetan and one reporter, Nurudeen Akewushola, are in police custody.
ICIR in a statement on X said the duo were held for six hours after honoring an invitation by the Police Cybercrime Centre and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
The ICIR said the invitation is connected to a report over an alleged abuse of office by two Nigerian former inspector-general of police (IGPs) and other senior officers.
The media organisation disclosed that the two were invited to provide information to help ICPC and police investigation into the allegations of corruption in the police force.
But police stated that the invitation is related to an investigation relating to “cyberstalking and defamation” while the ICPC said it was about the investigation into the claims in the report.
In the invitation, the ICPC said it is investigating “a case that bothers on an alleged violation of provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related OffencesAct 2000 and it has become necessary to have recourse to your organisation.”
The ICIR report was titled “Two former IGPs, senior Police officers accused of bribery in shady land sale of designated Police Barracks.”
The ICIR noted that the police claimed it is probing a case of cyberstalking and defamation of character based on a petition received by the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigative Department, but provided no details.
However, ICIR said it received a letter May 15, from the Cybercrime Centre inviting its managers and Akewushola to appear before it on April 24.
The letter dated April 16 was not delivered to the ICIR until three weeks after it was supposed to have honoured the invitation, ICIR said.
