The Yobe state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ has suspended indefinitely a journalist with People’s Daily newspaper, Uche Friday Uche accused of raping a four-year-old girl.
At an emergency meeting of the Yobe NUJ chapter in Damaturu, the state capital on Monday, the chairperson of the union, Rajab Mohammed said Uche is suspended from the union until he is cleared by the courts of the allegation.
The chapter chairperson added that the police has arraigned the journalist before a magistrate’s court after five days in police custody.
He said following the failure of Uche to meet his bail conditions, he was taken to the Potiskum Medium Correctional Facility pending further police investigations.
Mohammed noted that NUJ officials had initially waded into the matter after being informed of Uche’s arrest until the medical report of a hospital which examined the girl confirmed bruises on her genitals.
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He said the NUJ as a critical stakeholder in the fight against gender-based violence, rape, and other related offenses, decided to allow the law to take its course on the matter.
Ait.live gathered that Uche was arrested by the Yobe State Police Command last Friday, after an allegation by his neighbour, a soldier, accusing the journalist of raping his infant daughter.
As at the time of this report, no reaction has been received from the management of Peoples Daily newspapers on the matter.
(Editor:Abaje Usewke)
