The Managing Editor, Northern Operations of The Nation, Alhaji Yusuf Alli, on Thursday regained his freedom.
Alli was arrested by the police on Tuesday over the publication of a letter purportedly written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan, demanding the sacking of heads of certain Federal Government agencies.
Before his release, Alli, who was in the custody at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Area 10, Abuja, was brought to the Force Headquarters for another round of interrogation.
It was after the interrogation that the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, ordered his release.
Our correspondent learnt that the Attorney- General of the Federation Mr. Mohammed Adoke, who was sighted at the Force Headquarters, told the IGP that Jonathan had ordered that Alli be released immediately.
He was said to have told the police boss that government was no longer interested in the prosecution of the journalist.
Alli breathed the air of freedom at 1.59pm, but was ordered to report back on Wednesday, October 19.
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mohammed Garba, thanked Nigerians for their concern since Tuesday.
He said, “I must say that we are indeed very, very happy that our brother has been released and from the information we have, the intervention of Mr. President was responsible for his release.”
Our correspondent learnt that Alli’s arrest along with four other employees of the paper resulted from pressure on the government.
Though Obasanjo denied writing the letter, he vowed to sue the publishers of the story. He went further by petitioning Jonathan and the police.
Meanwhile, the Presidency on Thursday exonerated Jonathan from the arrest of Alli and others.
The clarification came just as Ringim told State House correspondents that the editors were arrested on the strength of a petition by Obasanjo.
A source at the Presidency, who pleaded anonymity told journalists that attacking Jonathan for the travails ofAlli and others arrested along with him in The Nation was misplaced.
Obasanjo had insisted that he did not write the letter attributed to him, thereby accusing the editors of the newspaper of forgery.
Ringim told State House correspondents that the arrest of the editors did not translate to a crackdown on the press as opposition political parties and advocacy groups had alleged.
He said, “The complaint emanated from an aggrieved individual who under the Nigerian Constitution has a right to complain to the Nigerian Police.”
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