Alleged defamation: OMPAN Condemns attempts to whisk chairman off by FCID officers.

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Following a failed attempt to deceitfully arrest and bundle to the force headquarters Abuja Chief Promise Uzoma Okoro Anipr by one Mr. Francis Ataman last Thursday in Umuahia, the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) Abia State has condemned the unprofessional conduct of the officers involved.

In a press statement issued on Thursday December 12, 2024, the association said the approach used by the team to arrest its chairman fell short of professionalism in every aspect having claimed to be someone else in the state on a mission of seeking publicity.

The said officer allegedly contacted the secretary of the online media publishers association of Nigeria , Abia state, Dr. Steve Unegbu from the state OMPAN secretariat in Eket street Umuahia for a publication but insisted on meeting the chairman, Chief Promise Uzoma Okoro Anipr.

But for the smart decision of the chairman to run a check on his identity online, the FCID team would have succeeded in embarrassing the chairman of OMPAN in Abia state.

The union has condemned the unprofessional behavior of the team while calling on the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission to take sanction the officers for such display of unprofessionalism.

“It is imperative to state that the association is not against security agents carrying out their professional duties because OMPAN has over the years built strong synergies with the different security agencies,but the unprofessionalism by the team should be condemned by all stakeholders,” it reads.

Days after the failed Gestapo arrest, the chairman received a letter from the same man who claimed to have come from Enugu for a publication inviting Chief Okoro to Abuja over allegations of defamation against him.

“His attempted arrest,was allegedly instigated by a complaint from yet to be known individual over an alleged defamation even when there was no formal invitation or refusal to respond to prior invitation.

“It is even worrisome that the team from Abuja invaded the State on that failed attempt to whisk away the media practitioner without informing the Abia State Police command which ordinarily should be in the know of their coming into the State

“Security agencies must embody professionalism and respect for human rights when performing their professional duties,” it said .

The association has equally questioned the use of security agencies to intimidate and cow media practitioners over publications considered defamatory instead of resorting to instituting lawsuits in such a civil matter.

“It is pertinent to bring to the public notice that it is disconcerting that rather than challenging media publication alleged to be libelous in civil lawsuits,some individuals resort to using security agencies to arrest, harass and intimidate journalists and bloggers for criticism and defamation.

“It is appalling that an allegation of defamation, a civil matter is being handled in such a manner, apparently because of the status of the individual involved,” the statement said.

To buttress the seriousness of the matter, The chairman of Online Media Practitioners in Abia State Chief Promise Uzoma Okoro will on Friday December 13th 2024 address the media on the matter.