Journalist allegedly detained for criticizing Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in a viral Whatsapp audio

Rotimi Jolayemi, a freelance broadcaster, has been detained for 12 days now allegedly on the order of Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, The Cable reports.

Jolayemi, known as Oba Akewi, is the vice-chairman Freelance and Independent Radio Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), Osun state chapter.

Olu Olugbade, the FIBAN chairman who confirmed the development, said Jolayemi had recorded an eight-minute audio criticising the minister and released via WhatsApp.

“The audio started going viral, and days after, his wife and brothers were traced in Kwara where they lived and were detained by the police,” Olugbade said.

“We were then told the minister had listened to the audio and tagged it hate speech. Comrade Jolayemi later showed up at the police headquarters in Ilorin and submitted himself for investigation. He was then moved to Abuja and since we’ve not been allowed access to him.

Every time we went there with our lawyers, they would turn us back. We asked that he be charged but the police say they don’t have anything to use against him yet.” he said

Olugbade said his organization has made an effort in appealing to the minister but its appeal fell on deaf ears. He said Jolayemi is a law-abiding citizen and would not set out to hurt the minister. He also raised concerns over the health condition of the detained broadcaster.

“Jolayemi’s health can’t cope with this kind of detention and I’m afraid if he’s not freed on time, things might get worse,” he said.

Osagie Obayuwana, president of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), in a statement, condemned the detention of Jolayemi’s family members, saying it is a violation of section 7 of the administration of criminal justice act, which forbids hostage-taking and the arrest of any person in place of another.