Premium Times journalist released from detention

PREMIUM TIMES reporter Savior Imukudo, who was arrested on Wednesday, on the orders of Akwa Ibom Chief Justice Ekaette Obot, has been released.

Mr. Imukudo was released around 5 p.m. On Wednesday after PREMIUM TIMES (Southern Operations) Deputy Editor Cletus Ukpong met with the Chief Justice in her office.

The judge said her complaint with the journalist was that he used his phone to record court proceedings without her permission.

Mr. Imukudo admitted to recording the proceedings, but explained that he did so to allow him to accurately report what happened in court.

"Because the case had become controversial, I wanted to be careful," the reporter said. "I wanted to capture the highlights on tape so there was no risk of misquoting anyone."

The journalist was forced to delete the recording he made, with Judge Obot saying that permission must be granted before any recording of the proceedings is made in her court.

Mr. Imukudo was later released and his phone returned to him.

“PREMIUM TIMES is a responsible organization,” Mr. Ukpong said. "We will continue to report the defamation and other cases in the state responsibly, without bias and in accordance with global best practices and the ethics of our profession.

“We urge the Chief Justice to view journalists as partners in the temple of justice. She should be more tolerant of journalists who, like many judges, are on a mission to make our world a more just, prosperous and peaceful place."

The journalist was in court to cover proceedings in a defamation lawsuit between Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel and the defendant, Leo Ekpenyong, a lawyer.

Mr Ekpenyong's lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, was jailed the same day by Judge Obot after charging him with contempt of court.

The judge first asked Mr. Imukudo to leave his court. But as he was leaving, the judge ordered her orderlies to intercept him, confiscate his phone and detain him.

The journalist was held in an office in the court complex before being transferred to a nearby divisional police station, where he was forced to write a statement.

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