NUJ, IPC Condemn Clampdown on Premium Times Reporter
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Press Centre (IPC) have condemned in the strongest terms the arrest and detention of Mr Samuel Ogundipe, a reporter of Premium Times,...
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Press Centre (IPC) have condemned in the strongest terms the arrest and detention of Mr Samuel Ogundipe, a reporter of Premium Times, Nigeria’s leading online investigative newspaper by the Police and his detention at the facility of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS in Abuja.
“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Samuel Ogundipe and an end to all forms of impunity against the media,” said the NUJ.
Samuel Ogundipe was arrested for writing a story on the report sent to the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbanjo by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on the sacked and detained Director General of the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Mr Lawal Daura.
In a statement by its President, Mr Abdulwaheed Odusile, the NUJ said it “is horrified by the constant harassment and molestation of Journalists by the Police and other agents of the State and requests that such should abate forthwith.”
“It should be noted that confidentiality of sources is necessary for good journalism to flourish and Journalists should not be coerced into revealing such sources.”
The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos said it is also outraged by the detention of Premium Times Security Sector Reporter, Samuel Ogundipe as well as the Editor-In-Chief, Muskilu Mojeed and the Education Reporter, Azeezat Adedigba on Tuesday, August 14.
While Mr. Mojeed and Ms. Adedigba were released after being arrested, detained and harassed, Mr. Ogundipe is still being held.
IPC in a statement signed by its Director, Mr Lanre Arogundade, said it “is particularly dismayed that the Police authorities want Mr. Ogundipe to disclose the source of information over a story published by the newspaper on a correspondence between the Inspector General of Police and the Vice President.”
“This, to us, is a clear assault on press freedom and a clear threat to the safety of the detained journalist and his colleagues.”
“The Police Authorities are also hereby reminded that the Freedom of Information Act, a federal law, enacted in 2011, in Section 16 subsection C confers on the media ‘Journalism Confidentiality Privileges’ and as such should desist from engaging in unconstitutional acts.”
While also condemning the arrests and detention of the concerned journalists, the IPC demanded the immediate release of Mr. Ogundipe.
The Police on Tuesday, secured a warrant from an Abuja Magistrate Court to detain the Premium Times reporter, Samuel Ogundipe for 10 days.
The action followed Mr. Ogundipe’s decision to adhere to the ethics of the journalism profession by not disclosing the source of his information.
Premium Times’ Publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi said the police had requested to see his Education Correspondent, Azeezat Adedigba, over an alleged cybercrime case.
However, when the journalist reported to the police station, she was detained briefly and freed but requested for Ogundipe who later reported to the police station and was immediately taken into custody.
“At the time Samuel was arrested, the police who detained him were unaware of the reason for which he was arrested,” Mr. Olorunyomi said.
“But they told us the order to arrest him was given by the IGP. We were still there when they went around looking for where to secure a court order to keep him.”
“We later learnt they secured an order from one of the magistrate courts here in Abuja to keep him for 10 days,” Olorunyomi said.
Ogundipe was arrested by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for writing a story the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, considered offensive.
The action came against the backdrop of the directive by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for a review and investigation into the operations of SARS.
The Police repeatedly asked Ogundipe to disclose his source for a story published by Premium Times but were upset that he refused to bulge
The story, also published by other media, revealed a letter written by the IGP to Mr. Osinbajo on last week’s siege to the National Assembly by security officials.
When Mr. Mojeed told Deputy Commissioner of Police at the IGP Monitoring Unit, Sani Ahmadu, that it was wrong to compel a journalist to disclose a source of information, the police officer became incensed and threatened him.
Officials at the police headquarters said the directive to detain the journalist came directly from the IGP who is said to be angry at the paper’s critical reporting of his activities.
