Gwagwalada is once again thrust into the national spotlight as a chilling test case for press freedom, democracy, and the rule of law unfolds at the Magistrate Court along Specialist Hospital Road, near UATH.
Tomorrow, Manasseh B.P, a known civic activist and Investigative reporter, will appear in court in a case officially titled Commissioner of Police vs. Manasseh. The complainants are the sitting Gwagwalada Area Council Chairman, Abu Giri, and the APGA candidate, Ezekiel Umar Biko, popularly known as Zezelaga.
What is framed as a defamation case, Manasseh insists, is in reality a coordinated campaign of persecution aimed at silencing a critical voice demanding transparency in the affairs of the Gwagwalada Area Council.
In a public statement released ahead of his court appearance, Manasseh alleged that he was abducted on a Thursday morning by Ezekiel Umar Biko and taken to the chairman’s residence in Phase III, described as the Tony Amole house reportedly purchased by the chairman from a popular radio presenter. There, he claims he was subjected to humiliation, torture, and threats for insisting on accountability in council allocations.
According to Manasseh, the ordeal continued at the police station, where he was unlawfully detained and physically assaulted in the presence of the Investigating Police Officer, identified as Mr. Terso. In a particularly disturbing allegation, he claimed that Ezekiel Umar Biko brought a group of young men into the station and pointed at him, saying, “this is the boy I want you to kill,” a statement he says was made openly before the IPO.
He further alleged that threats to his life have persisted beyond that day, placing not only him but his family members and close associates in danger, with several attempted attacks already recorded.
At the heart of the dispute is an investigative report by Chronicles Reporters which exposed alleged irregularities in council allocations, local contracts, and mismanagement. The report specifically accused Ezekiel Umar Biko of acting as a middleman for the chairman in questionable financial dealings.
Manasseh maintains that this report, rather than any defamatory publication, is the true reason behind his prosecution.
In a twist of irony, he disclosed that the IPO referenced Section 392 of the Penal Code, a provision that criminalizes threats to life, extortion, and acts intended to cause fear of death or injury. Yet, he argues, the same law that should protect him is now being weaponized against him, while the alleged perpetrators of assault and intimidation walk free.
He accused the Commissioner of Police of being used as a tool by political actors to suppress dissent, cover up corruption, and criminalize investigative journalism.
As he prepares to enter the courtroom, Manasseh has issued a call to human rights organizations, civil society groups, the media, and concerned citizens to observe the proceedings closely.
“This fight is not just for myself,” he declared, “but for the integrity of our community and the protection of citizens who dare to speak the truth.”
The outcome of this case may determine more than the fate of one activist. For many in Gwagwalada, it will reveal whether the courts remain a sanctuary of justice or a stage for the persecution of those who challenge power.