Peter Olasupo, an Oyo State-based broadcast journalist with 32FM, has been invited by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) over defamation and cyberstalking allegations.

INTERPOL’s operations mostly revolve around locating and extraditing criminals to any of its 196 member countries where such individuals have a question to answer.

Olasupo said the police outfit claimed it was investigating a case of criminal defamation and cyberstalking involving him.

READ ALSO: ICIR Next As Police Continue ‘Cyberstalking’ Onslaught Against Online Newspapers

On Monday, Olasupo said that the letter of invitation left out the details of the allegations. He will be accompanied by a lawyer to the INTERPOL’s office on January 13.

Olasupo had earlier posted about the invite on his Facebook profile on Sunday.

“I recently received a letter with the headline, ‘Investigation Activities/Invitation Letter from the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL)’, informing me of an investigation into allegations of criminal defamation and cyberstalking involving me,” Olasupo wrote.

“They requested that I report to INTERPOL Headquarters at Force Headquarters, Shehu Shagari Way, Garki, Abuja, on Monday, 30th December 2024, at 11:00 am in furtherance of the investigation.

“Upon receiving the letter through my boss, my boss immediately contacted our able lawyer Barr. Yomi Ogunlola, who responded on my behalf, resulting in a rescheduled appearance date of Monday, 13th January, 2025.

“At the moment, I don’t have full details of the matter, but I will present myself at their office and fully cooperate with INTERPOL’s investigation into the alleged case.

“However, I am curious — why must I report to the Abuja office? Why can’t I report to the Nigeria Police Headquarters at the Oyo State Command, Eleyele, Ibadan, or even their Lagos office, which would be easier for me to reach by train?

“This will not affect my dedication to doing the right thing or my professionalism. I remain committed to speaking truth to those in power. Thank you for your unwavering support. I will keep you updated as events unfold.”

READ ALSO: NPF-NCCC Releases FIJ’s Founder ‘Fisayo Soyombo on Bail

Security establishments in Nigeria have increased their efforts to hound journalists and stifle press freedom using the Cybercrime Act despite a recent amendment.

In May 2023, FIJ’s Daniel Ojukwu was abducted in Lagos and secretly whisked away to Abuja without the knowledge of his family and colleagues.

Some months after Ojukwu’s abduction, ‘Fisayo Soyombo, FIJ’s founder and editor-in-chief, was detained for several hours after honouring an invitation by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja.

Earlier in March, Bukky Shonibare, chairman of FIJ’s Board of Trustees, was interrogated for hours by the same NPF-NCCC over allegations of cybercrime and demanded she produce Soyombo.

Several other journalists have been victims of abductions and harassment by security agencies in the course of their professional duties.