By Fatima Saka
ABUJA — The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has renewed its call for an independent investigation into the alleged assault on the Editor of Pinnacle Daily, Sunday Michael Ogwu, accusing the FCT Police Command of shifting attention from the alleged attack to the conduct of the journalist.
The coalition said the police command’s August 21 statement failed to address the substance of Ogwu’s allegations, including claims that he was assaulted by police officers and personnel of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Lugbe, Abuja.
CWPPF, in a follow-up statement issued on Saturday, said the command neither confirmed nor denied the alleged assault, identified the officers involved, nor addressed allegations concerning the use of an electric cable and the destruction of Ogwu’s mobile phone.
Instead, the coalition said the police focused largely on Ogwu’s failure to honour invitations to report at the Command Headquarters, alleging that he had “declined to honour” invitations and was “seemingly” attempting to mobilise public sentiment.
The coalition described the development as troubling, insisting that Ogwu had personally reported the incident to the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, at about 8:30 p.m. on August 19, a few hours after the alleged 5:30 p.m. assault.
According to CWPPF, Ogwu subsequently sought legal advice and the support of press-freedom organisations before making a formal statement, describing the move as a lawful and reasonable precaution for a person alleging assault by officers within the command he was being asked to report to.
The coalition further said the FCT Police PRO had reportedly told the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) shortly after the incident that the officers involved were likely not under the FCT Command.
It noted that the command’s subsequent statement did not clarify or reconcile that position.
CWPPF also said the Divisional Police Officer of Lugbe, CSP Ukorobo Uchenna C., did not deny that an assault occurred when contacted by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), but reportedly asked whether Ogwu personally saw or spoke to him.
The coalition said a separate publication attributed to the Lugbe Community Security Committee indicated that Lugbe Police and VGN personnel were deployed in the area on the same date, although it described the operation as an anti-drug exercise, rather than the demolition operation referenced in Ogwu’s account.
“Taken together, CWPPF is concerned that the substantive allegation of assault risks being displaced by a competing narrative about the complainant’s conduct,” the coalition said.
It maintained that consulting lawyers and press-freedom organisations before making a formal statement should not be interpreted as obstruction.
CWPPF said Ogwu had sought medical attention for injuries allegedly sustained during the attack and was therefore unable to honour the police invitation.
The journalist, however, has committed to honouring the invitation on Monday, August 24, accompanied by his lawyers.
The coalition called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and the FCT Police Command to place the investigation under an independent mechanism outside the direct command structure implicated in the allegation.
It also demanded the public identification of officers and units deployed to the Lugbe Federal Housing Estate operation on August 19, as well as the preservation and release of relevant deployment records, operational orders, patrol vehicle logs and available CCTV or body camera footage.
CWPPF further demanded an apology and compensation for Ogwu over his allegedly destroyed mobile phone, payment of medical expenses arising from the alleged assault, and an end to public characterisation of the journalist’s conduct pending a transparent investigation.
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The coalition also urged the police to issue binding directives to all FCT police divisions affirming the rights of journalists to document public operations without obstruction, seizure of equipment or physical harm.
“Journalism is not a crime, and documenting the public conduct of state agents is a constitutionally protected right,” CWPPF said, pledging to continue monitoring the matter and support a credible, transparent and independent resolution.
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