(MRA/IFEX) – On 14 June 2006, operatives of the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria’s intelligence agency, invaded the premises of the country’s largest private television network, the Africa Independent Television (AIT), in Abuja and arrested Gbenga Mike Aruleba, host of the popular “Focus on Nigeria” programme. About 12 security agents carried out the raid and […]
(MRA/IFEX) – On 14 June 2006, operatives of the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria’s intelligence agency, invaded the premises of the country’s largest private television network, the Africa Independent Television (AIT), in Abuja and arrested Gbenga Mike Aruleba, host of the popular “Focus on Nigeria” programme.
About 12 security agents carried out the raid and arrest at about 8:00 a.m. (local time). Aruleba was still being held at the close of the day, although AIT Corporate Affairs Manager Johnson Onime said the management of the station was making efforts to secure his release.
Aruleba is believed to have been arrested over an interview he granted a former senator, Joseph Waku, which was aired on the “Focus on Nigeria” programme on 13 June. Senator Waku harshly criticized the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo during the interview.
AIT’s acting chairman Tom Adaba said that although the television station did not yet know the specific reason for the invasion and Aruleba’s arrest, the security agents who came to its premises demanded the tape containing the edition of the programme aired on 13 June. However, he said the tape could not be given to the security agents as it was in Lagos, where all the recording of the programme is done.
Adaba said the station was making efforts to transfer the tape from Lagos to Abuja for onward transmission to the SSS in the hope that it would result in the release of Aruleba.
The “Focus on Nigeria” programme, which Aruleba anchors daily, was introduced by the station in January 2006. It runs from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. from Monday to Friday. Aruleba said during the maiden edition of the programme that it was intended “to put in focus all issues and processes leading to the 2007 General Election.” It also encourages audience participation through telephone calls and short message texts sent via mobile telephones.
The latest raid on AIT is the second by SSS operatives in one month. On 14 May, SSS agents raided the same Abuja office of AIT and seized the master tape of a 30-minute documentary on failed attempts by various past Nigerian heads of state to prolong their tenure in office (for further information, see IFEX alert of 15 May 2006). Nigeria’s National Assembly was then debating a controversial proposal to amend the 1999 Constitution in order, among other things, to extend the tenure of the President and state governors by a further four years. The proposal was later defeated.
