| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
ALERT AND UPDATE - NIGERIA
7 October 1997
Arrest warrant issued for "The NEWS" editor-in-chief; "FAME" magazine staffer dies from illness developed during his detention
SOURCE: Independent Journalism Centre (IJC), Lagos
**New case plus update to IFEX alerts dated 25 and 19 September 1997 (Reth Ateloye)**
(IJC/IFEX) - Police have sent an arrest warrant to Bayo Onanuga, the editor-in-chief of the magazine "The NEWS". The warrant, dated 2 October 1997, asked Onanuga to appear before a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja at 10:00 am on 6 October.
Two plainclothes policemen came to the offices of "The NEWS" on 3 October, ordered the company's guards to sign for the arrest warrant, and left word that Onanuga must comply with the instruction to report to their headquarters.
Meanwhile, Onanuga and all other editors of the magazine have gone into hiding. Nevertheless, "The NEWS" and its sister titles, "TEMPO" and "PM News", continue to appear on newsstands regularly.
Elsewhere, Reth Ateloye, the "FAME" magazine staffer detained on 17 September 1997 (see IFEX alerts), is dead. He died at a private hospital in Ketu, a Lagos suburb, in the early hours of 5 October from an illness he developed during his detention. Ateloye, on crutches, was placed in an overcrowded cell at the Federal Bureau of Intelligence and Investigation (FIIB) office in Ikoyi, Lagos, after his arrest. He took ill two days later and was taken to Military Hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos. He was released on 22 September when his condition just slightly improved. After his release, his condition worsened and he was taken to the Ketu hospital where he eventually died.
For further information, contact Akin Akingbulu, Tejumola House (1st Floor) 24, Omole Layout, New Isheri Road, P.O. Box 7808, Ojudu, Ikeja - Lagos, Nigeria, tel/fax: +234 1 4924998/4924314, e-mail: ijc@linkserve.com.ng
The information contained in this alert and update is the sole responsibility of IJC. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit IJC. _________________________________________________________________
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[Via the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa (IRIN-WA) Reports mailing list. The material contained in this communication may not necessarily reflect the views of the UN or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts from this report should be attributed to the original sources where appropriate. For further information: e-mail irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci, Tel: +225 217367 Fax:+225 216335.]
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19971008080049.00aa5acc@pop.africaonline.co.ci> Date: Wed, 08 Oct 1997 08:00:49 +0100 From: UN DHA IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@africaonline.co.ci> Subject: Nigeria: IFEX Alert, Arrest warrant for "The NEWS" editor; "FAME" staffer dies 97.10.08
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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