The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has strongly condemned the detention of the Africa Independent Television (AIT) journalist-cum-presenter, Amechi Anakwe on the orders of Assistant Inspector General of Police in Abuja, Joseph Mbu, warning that “we shall resist any attempt to gag the press or harass any one going about their lawful duty in a peaceful and lawful manner”.

NLC, in the statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo- Eson, said “It is too soon to forget that the media played a leading role in securing the fourth republic for Nigerians. That task was not accomplished by playing the lapdog of everyone”.

While recalling that Mbu said, “The offence of Anakwe is that he had referred to Mbu as “controversial”, which in our view is neither derogatory nor libelous. Even if the word or sentence were otherwise, there are lawful channels of redress.

Mbu cannot be judge and prosecutor in his own case,” the Congress asserted: “Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to which we are all answerable in spite of our station in life”.