OCTOBER 11, 2005
Posted October 17, 2005
Owei Kobina Sikpi, Weekly Star
IMPRISONED
Sikpi, publisher of the tabloid Weekly Star, was arrested by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) in the southern city of Port Harcourt, and held without charge, the paper’s editor, Obinna Ahiaidu told CPJ. He said the arrest was over an article that accused a local official of money laundering.
Sikpi was arrested along with four printing press staff as the Weekly Star was going to press, according to Ahiaidu. The four were released the same day but Sikpi was held at the SSS office in Port Harcourt. Ahiaidu said he had not been allowed to see him.
Reuters news agency and the Lagos-based Vanguard newspaper quoted the local police commissioner as saying he was not aware of the arrest.