BY ABDULWAHAB ABDALLAH
LAGOS— Managing Director of Folio Communications, owners of Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, has been reported arrested by the police over the controversy trailing the management of the company, after it was acquired by him.

But, in his reaction, Anosike, in a telephone chat, denied being invited or arrested by the police.

Anosike said: “The rumour is part of the devilish plan to weaken us by all means. I was not arrested or quizzed by the police. The matter in court is coming up late September, and I have not been served with court papers. If I am served, I will be in court.”

It was gathered that Anosike was quizzed for hours by the police and later released on administrative bail.

A source told Vanguard that he was asked to report to the station until the end of courts’ vacation.

It was learnt that his arrest may not be unconnected with the order of Justice Habeeb Abiru of an Ikeja High Court, which ordered the Inspector-General of Police, to produce Anosike, his brother, Noel, and their company before it over a 40-count charge of stealing N2.5bn worth of property belonging to The Daily Times of Nigeria Plc.

There were also indications that his arrest was prompted by the investigation by the Senate Committee on Privatisation on how Bureau for Public Enterprise, BPE, sold some Federal Government companies to some individuals.

According to the fresh charges before the Lagos High Court, the Anosike brothers and their company, Folio Communications, were alleged to have made false representation to BPE, that they had means to acquire majority shares of Daily Times, when they never had such means.