Journalists mount pressure on Osinbajo for Samuel Ogundipe’s release
More pressure is being mounted on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to order the release of Samuel Ogundipe, the Premium Times journalist being held by the police.
Over 200 journalists, in a letter signed by Niyi Tabiti, Moji Danisa-Dawodu, Kanbi Owolabi and Funke Osae-Brown, expressed their displeasure at how Ogundipe was arraigned in court a day after his arrest without proper legal representatives.
The journalists further said the demand for Ogundipe’s source by the police is against professional ethics.
“As you know Sir, confidentiality of sources is critical to the growth of quality journalism in every civilised society,” they maintain.
“Today, we received with sadness news that Samuel was arraigned before an Abuja magistrate court by the police in a bid to get an order to prolong his detention. It is also worrisome that the police curiously omitted the fact that Samuel is a Nigerian journalist in the charge sheet presented to the magistrate.
“We therefore demand that you use your good office as a renowned advocate of law and social justice to intervene expediently for the release of Samuel Ogundipe.
“Nevertheless, we believe that the rule of law should be followed to the letter in the event of any legal and fair prosecution. We also wish to remind the Nigerian Police that a federal law enacted in 2011 (Freedom of Information Act) reposes on the Nigerian media certain privileges of Confidentiality in section 16c, and the police shall therefore be held accountable for any unconstitutional act designed to oppress or traumatize Mr. Ogundipe, or any Nigerian journalist practising legitimately.”
They urged the Acting President to react swiftly, as he has done with other pressing matters, to free Ogundipe from the hands of the police.
