Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat freed from police custody, denies cyberbullying allegation

An Ibadan-based broadcaster, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, who was arrested by the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) of Nigeria Police Force, has been released.

Recall, Hamzat, who is the Managing Director of Agidigbo 88.7FM, in the early hours of Thursday, May 26, 2022, was arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State capital and was then taken to Abuja for interrogation.

The station, in a statement issued by Yousuph Grey Adebayo, Head of Station, Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Ibadan, insisted that Hamzat arrested only because he has been calling for justice in the murder of Mr. Timothy Adegoke.

Confirming the arrest in a tweet on Thursday, Muyiwa Adéjọbí, the Force Public Relations Officer, said Hamzat was arrested for alleged cyberbullying.

Adejobi claimed Oriyomi Hamzat had been invited several times by the force but he refused to honour the invitation after which the police secured an arrest warrant against the journalist.

However, the management of his radio station confirmed his release in a statement on Friday, faulting the claims of the police over the reasons stated for Oriyomi’s arrest.

“As we have rightly stated yesterday, at no point was Mr. Oriyomi Hamat found guilty of cyberbullying neither did he refuse at any point to not honour invitations from the Nigeria Police Force as wrongly alleged by the Force PRO. Why this false insinuation is being purveyed is completely beyond our grasp.

“Nonetheless, it is at this juncture; that we express our heartfelt appreciation to all Nigerians who stood by us throughout yesterday’s trying moment, and lent their voice to #FreeOriyomiliamat. This might not have been possible; especially this soon, without your amplification of our concerns.

“We also say a huge thank you to the general public who joined in the peaceful protests that were held in Ibadan yesterday, to Nigerians in Diaspora for their prompt reactions, the Nigerian Union of Journalists and to all of our colleagues who considered Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat’s arrest as an injury to one that equates an injury to all.

“We also appreciate the efforts of the legal team led by Barrister Adekunle Ridwan. This wasn’t just an attempt to stem the undue incarceration of a man calling for justice but also an exercise in protecting the sanctity of free speech.

“We’ll keep the general public abreast of further developments. Oriyomi Hainzat is a free man now,” the statement.

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