The Presidency has recalled the State House correspondent of Punch newspapers, Olalekan Adetayo, who was expelled from the Presidential Villa by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief Security Officer, Bashir Abubakar.
This was disclosed in a statement on Twitter in the late hours of Monday.
In the tweet, the Presidency reiterated Buhari’s commitment to freedom of the press.
UPDATE: Lekan Adetayo, the @MobilePunch Correspondent, has been recalled to the State House. We reiterate PMB’s commitment to press freedom
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) April 24, 2017
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity to Buhari, Femi Adesina, had earlier disclosed that the media office was not consulted before the journalist was expelled.
“We weren’t consulted in the media office by the CSO before he expelled The Punch reporter. President Buhari is committed to press freedom.
“An amicable solution would be found to The Punch reporter matter. President Buhari does not intend to muzzle the media in any way,” Adesina wrote in messages on Twitter.
Adetayo was expelled from Aso Rock on Monday over his reports on Buhari’s state of health.
