Ayodele Samuel, the Chief Executive Officer of Rock FM 92.3, Jalingo, and Publisher of Taraba Truths and Facts, was arrested over a story he published detailing plans by Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku to sell out the state’s liaison office in Abuja.
A live program aired on Rock FM about the plights of Taraba State workers being owed 14 months’ salary arrears also angered the state government.
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Prior to his detention, Samuel honoured two separate police invitations with respect to the stories. The journalist later got a secret trial, allegedly orchestrated by the police on the orders of the governor.
Samuel was secretly arraigned before the court in Jalingo on Monday by the police and later, remanded in prison despite meeting the bail conditions earlier given by the court — the provision of N10 million and two sureties.
Before his arrest and detention, Samuel reportedly raised the alarm over alleged threats to his life by agents of the state government.
The media outlet reported the state’s liaison office in Abuja is listed among the state-owned properties whose ownership would be transferred to private hands in the winding up of Governor Ishaku’s two-term tenure.
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The Liaison office, maintained and used by successive administrations was left to rot under Governor Ishaku’s administration and is under lock.
The journalist has also published investigative stories in the newspapers with regard to the privatization of the Mambilla Beverages Company and the College of Nursing, Jalingo. These publications are said to have angered the state government.
Iliya Bekyu, the Press Secretary to the Taraba State Governor did not comment on the detention but referred Wikkitimes to the police. “Please, call the police, is not my case,” he said.
However, Usman Abdullahi, the Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) did not respond to WikkiTimes phone calls. A message sent to had also not been responded to as of press time.
Babaji Usman Babaji is an investigative journalist with over four years of experience, renowned for his impactful reporting on corruption, human rights violations, and holding those in power accountable in Nigeria.
His career is distinguished by participation in numerous media training programs and conferences, which have honed his investigative and reporting skills. Babaji’s data-driven stories have made a significant impact, particularly in Northern Nigeria, shedding light on critical issues and driving meaningful change.
As a reporter under WikkiTimes’ Collaborative Media (CMEDIA) Project, Babaji has led several groundbreaking investigations. He was a 2022 fellow of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and a 2024 Media Foundation for West Africa DPI/DPG fellow. His contributions to accountability journalism earned him a Certificate of Recognition from Xchange Hama Media for impactful community work.
