PRESS RELEASE

EIHRO Condemns Alleged Arrest, Detention and Conviction of Journalist Farida Isyaku Over ₦100 Charcoal Dispute

Date: October 23, 2026

The EduBrain Int’l Human Rights Organization (EIHRO) unequivocally condemns the reported arrest, detention, prosecution and subsequent conviction of radio journalist Farida Isyaku in connection with a civil dispute reportedly involving a ₦100 balance from the purchase of charcoal between her mother and a customer. The incident has been attributed to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Usman Adamu, of Mararaban Police Division in Kaduna State.

If the reported circumstances are established, this incident raises serious concerns about the abuse of police powers, the criminalisation of civil disputes, the protection of freedom of expression and the fundamental rights of citizens under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The reported prosecution and conviction of Farida Isyaku in connection with her publication concerning the alleged detention of her parents are particularly troubling. The mere fact that a journalist reports or publicises an alleged human rights violation should not, in itself, become a justification for retaliatory arrest or prosecution. Any restriction on freedom of expression must be justified by law and consistent with constitutional safeguards.

EIHRO considers this development a matter of grave public concern. If left unaddressed, it could establish a dangerous precedent in which citizens and journalists are intimidated into silence for speaking out against alleged misconduct by public officers. Such a situation would undermine public confidence in law enforcement institutions, the administration of justice and the democratic values upon which our nation stands.

OUR LEGAL POSITION

Section 39(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), guarantees the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.

Furthermore, Section 39(2) protects the right to establish and operate media institutions for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions, subject to the applicable constitutional and legal provisions.

These constitutional guarantees underscore the importance of protecting journalists and other citizens who communicate information on matters of public interest. Nevertheless, the exercise of these rights remains subject to lawful and constitutionally permissible limitations.

Similarly, Section 22 of the Constitution recognises the responsibility of the press, radio, television and other mass media to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people. Although this provision falls within Chapter II of the Constitution, it reinforces the constitutional importance of a free and responsible press.

In addition, Section 32(2) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, is relevant to the prohibition against arrest merely on the basis of a civil wrong or breach of contract. Law enforcement authorities must therefore distinguish genuine criminal allegations from disputes that are essentially civil in nature and must not deploy the machinery of criminal justice as an instrument of intimidation, retaliation or private debt recovery.

Accordingly, if the underlying dispute was purely civil and the journalist’s publication constituted the basis for retaliatory action, the circumstances would warrant urgent and independent scrutiny by the appropriate authorities.

EIHRO emphasises that the rule of law requires every arrest, investigation, prosecution and conviction to be grounded in lawful authority, credible evidence and due process. No police officer or public institution should be permitted to act beyond the limits of the law.

OUR DEMANDS

In view of the foregoing, EIHRO hereby makes the following demands:

1. Urgent Review of the Conviction and Release Where Legally Warranted

We call on the appropriate judicial authorities to urgently review the circumstances of Farida Isyaku’s conviction and take all lawful steps necessary to secure her release if the conviction is overturned or her continued detention is otherwise found to be unlawful. We equally demand that the circumstances surrounding the reported detention of her parents be promptly reviewed and that any person unlawfully detained be released without delay.

2. Immediate Intervention by the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission

We call on the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission, within their respective statutory powers, to initiate a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation into the conduct of the officers involved, including DPO Usman Adamu, and to establish whether any abuse of authority, misconduct or violation of fundamental rights occurred.

3. Accountability for Any Established Misconduct

All officers found, following a fair and impartial investigation, to have abused their powers, violated the law or infringed the fundamental rights of Farida Isyaku and her family must be subjected to appropriate disciplinary and, where warranted, criminal proceedings in accordance with the law.

4. Appropriate Compensation and a Public Apology

Where unlawful arrest, detention or other violations of fundamental rights are established, Farida Isyaku and any affected members of her family should receive appropriate compensation and other remedies available under the law. A public apology should also be issued by the responsible authorities where the findings justify such an apology.

5. Protection Against the Intimidation of Journalists and Citizens

We urge the Nigeria Police Force and all relevant public institutions to respect freedom of expression, uphold the rule of law and ensure that no citizen is subjected to intimidation or retaliatory action merely for raising concerns about alleged misconduct.

OUR POSITION: JUSTICE MUST PREVAIL

It is fundamentally inconsistent with the rule of law to employ criminal proceedings as a means of settling disputes that are purely civil in nature. Equally, the publication of information concerning alleged official misconduct must not automatically be treated as a criminal offence without a lawful basis and proper consideration of the facts.

The sanctity of our justice system rests upon fairness, impartiality, accountability and respect for the fundamental rights of every person. No individual should be above the law, and no citizen should be deprived of liberty except in accordance with the law.

EIHRO therefore calls on the relevant authorities to act with urgency, impartiality and institutional responsibility to ensure that this matter receives the attention it deserves.

Thank you.