Police deny arresting journalist over alleged affair claims, say suspect facing criminal charges

The Yobe State Police Command has dismissed claims that it arrested and detained a journalist for accusing the Managing Director of Yobe State Microfinance Bank of having an alleged romantic relationship with his wife.

The Police insisted that the suspect is being prosecuted over allegations of criminal defamation, intentional insult, and cyberbullying.

The clarification followed a report titled “Journalist Alleges Police Arrest, Detention After Accusing Yobe Microfinance Bank MD of Having Romantic Affair With His Wife.”

In a rejoinder issued on Monday, Dungus Abdulkarim, Police Public Relations Officer, said the Command acted strictly within the law and in accordance with due process.

According to the statement, the matter began on June 29, 2026, when Sheriff Almuhajir, Managing Director of Yobe State Microfinance Bank, through his solicitor, S. M. Abdullahi of B. B. Bale & Co. Chambers, Damaturu, submitted a written petition to the police.

The petition accused Nura Distin of offences bordering on criminal defamation, intentional insult, and cyberbullying under the relevant provisions of the Penal Code and the Cybercrime Act.

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The police said the petition was assigned to the State Intelligence Department (SID) for investigation.

Following preliminary findings which established what the Command described as a prima facie case, investigators obtained a warrant of arrest before taking the suspect into custody.

According to the Command, the suspect was subsequently arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court in Damaturu, which ordered his remand at the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the next adjourned date.

The Command stressed that the arrest and prosecution were carried out without bias or favour towards any of the parties involved.

The police disputed the description of Nura Distin as a journalist, stating that investigations established he allegedly used a Facebook account bearing the name “Mallam Nura” to publish statements considered defamatory and insulting against the complainant.

The statement added that investigators recovered the social media posts and documented them as exhibits during the investigation, while the suspect allegedly admitted ownership of both the Facebook account and the publications.

The police further rejected suggestions that Distin had earlier reported to authorities the allegations he made against the bank chief.

According to the Command, investigations revealed that the suspect never filed any formal complaint with the police or any relevant government agency concerning his allegation that the bank’s managing director was involved in a romantic relationship with his wife.

Instead, the police said those allegations only emerged during the investigation as part of the suspect’s defence.

“The arrest and subsequent prosecution arose solely from a formal petition alleging criminal offences, which were investigated in accordance with the law,” the statement said.

The Command also distanced itself from what it described as a misleading narrative suggesting that the suspect was targeted because of his profession or for exposing alleged misconduct.

The police said they would refrain from making further comments, urging members of the public to allow the judicial process to run its course.

The Yobe State Police Command reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting the rights of all citizens, and discharging its constitutional responsibilities professionally, fairly, and impartially.