Journalist who criticised Lai Mohammed released after 45 days

The Nigeria Police Force has released Rotimi Jolayemi, the broadcaster who allegedly insulted the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a song that went viral on social media.

This was disclosed by his wife, Dorcas, who told The PUNCH that he was released on Friday evening after spending 45 days in police custody.

She said, “He was finally released this afternoon by the police. He was, however, asked to return on Monday to sign some papers.”

Rights group, Amnesty International, had called on the police to release Jolayemi, who had spent more than five weeks in custody before he was finally arraigned in court on June 11, 2020

Jolayemi, who anchors a Yoruba radio programme, ‘Bi aye se ri’ on Osun State Broadcasting Service and Radio Kwara, was on May 5, 2020 arrested by the police at the behest of the minister.

Earlier, his wife, Dorcas, and his two brothers were arrested and spent over a week in police custody when they could not produce him.

They were however released after the journalist turned himself in.