The police in Ekiti state are preventing Sodiq Atanda, senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), from leaving their headquarters in Ado-Ekiti after he honoured an invitation on Tuesday.
Atanda is being held on the orders of Joseph Eribo, the Commissioner of Police in the state.
On September 1, the police had summoned Atanda following a petition by Abayomi Fasina, vice chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), who is currently on leave.
The petition, filed through Fasina’s lawyers, accused Atanda and FIJ of cyberbullying, blackmail and criminal defamation.
In a letter signed by Musa Hadi, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Atanda was directed to appear at the police headquarters in Ado-Ekiti on September 4.
“This office is investigating a complaint via petition from T. S Adegboyega & CO. on behalf of Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina,” the letter stated.
FIJ has published a series of reports alleging that Fasina sexually harassed a married colleague, manipulated university processes, and bribed members of the governing council.
In April, Fasina proceeded on a six-month leave approved by the governing council, amid renewed scrutiny of an internal probe that earlier absolved him.
He is also facing a defamation suit against the colleague who accused him of harassment and had previously obtained a court order to halt an ICPC probe into his conduct.