(MRA/IFEX) – On 25 October 2004, Owei Sikpi, of the “Weekly Star” newspaper, based in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was assaulted by thugs allegedly acting on instructions from Steven Diver, chairman of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State. The thugs, who were reportedly backed by anti-riot policemen, introduced themselves as […]
(MRA/IFEX) – On 25 October 2004, Owei Sikpi, of the “Weekly Star” newspaper, based in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was assaulted by thugs allegedly acting on instructions from Steven Diver, chairman of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.
The thugs, who were reportedly backed by anti-riot policemen, introduced themselves as State Security Service (SSS) operatives. They then forcibly took Sikpi to a house located at 24 Woji Road in Port Harcourt, where they beat him until he was nearly unconscious. Thereafter, they stripped him naked and took several photographs of him. They warned him never to write anything against Diver again and threatened to publish the photographs of him naked if he did.
The assault on Sikpi followed a news story written by the journalist and published in his newspaper on 30 September, alleging that the Diver had spent money illegally and recklessly. The report was entitled, “N700 million fraud, weep not Southern Ijaws.”
Diver, apparently angered by the publication, reportedly confronted the journalist in Port Harcourt and asked him to retract it within a week or “face [his] wrath.” He then directed a law firm, Egbulonu and Company, to take up the matter. The law firm wrote to the journalist demanding the immediate retraction of the publication, which the firm claimed was libellous, and the payment of N50 million (about US$373,000) in damages. In the 29 September letter, the law firm warned the journalist of serious consequences if he failed to meet Diver’s demands within seven days.
Responding to the letter through a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, Karibi Botoye, Sikpi denied libelling Diver and asked for details of his alleged wrongdoing. Diver, however, did not give details of the alleged libel until the 25 October assault.
Sikpi has petitioned the Bayelsa State police commissioner, asking the police to investigate Diver’s actions and to bring the culprits to justice.
