Nigeria, Oct. 15 -- Mary Ekere, a journalist who was arrested in September by the Akwa Ibom environmental task force for taking photos of their officials raiding a shop, has narrated how she was thrown into prison even before she was arraigned in court.

Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees citizens' right to "fair hearing in public" in any criminal matter.

Ms Ekere works with Uyo-based newspaper, The Post.

She spent two nights in the Uyo prison before the case against her was struck out after the intervention of the state governor, Udom Emmanuel.

The journalist said she was beaten up and thrown inside a vehicle, alongside a young man who was also arrested by the task force officials.

"They drove off to the Environmental...