The police have withdrawn the charge of defamation of character filed against a journalist with the African Independent Television (AIT), Mr Amaechi Anakwe.

The First Information Report which contained the charge was withdrawn by the police following which an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court struck it out.

Anakwe was consequently discharged and has since walked out of the court premises a free man.

Mr Joseph Mbu, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, whose tenure as Rivers State Commissioner of Police was characterized by controversies, allegedly  ordered the arrest and detention of Anakwe for describing him as “controversial” on a TV programme.

The journalist, Amaechi Anakwe, a reporter cum presenter for the African Independent Television, AIT, was detained Thursday morning after he reported at the Zone 7 police headquarters in Abuja, on the invitation of Mr. Mbu.