A correspondent of Peoples Daily Newspaper in Yobe State, Uche Friday Uche, facing trial for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl has been suspended by the state council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Uche was arrested by the police last Friday after his neighbour, a soldier, accused him of raping his daughter.
State chairman of the union, Rajab Mohammed, said Uche would remain suspended from the union until he is cleared by the courts of the allegation.
Mohammed said the police had arraigned the journalist before a magistrate’s court after five days in police custody.
Following his failure to meet his bail conditions, he was taken to the Potiskum Medium Correctional Facility pending further police investigations.
Mohammed said NUJ officials had initially waded into the matter after being informed of Uche’s arrest until the medical report of a hospital which examined the girl, confirmed bruises on her genitals.
He said the NUJ as a critical stakeholder in the fight against gender-based violence, rape and other related offences, decided to allow the law to take its course on the allegations.
