We have nothing to do with arrest of Premium Times Publisher, Reporter – FG

The Federal Government will not do anything to stifle press freedom because it is keenly aware that a free press is vital to the success of any democracy.
This position was stated on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
In a statement, Mohammed said the Federal Government has nothing to do with the recent arrest of the Publisher of Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi, and a reporter with the newspaper, Evelyn Okakwu.
He said the whole issue of the journalists’ arrest was purely a private affair involving a citizen and a privately-owned newspaper, and wondered how that could now be construed as an attempt by the government to intimidate the press.
He said: “We have said it before and we want to re-state it: The Federal Government has no immediate or long-term plan to stifle press freedom. Even the Social Media, with its warts and all, will neither be regulated nor have its operations tampered with.”