FreeSamuelOgundipe - Bukola Saraki’s Spokesman Speaks About Premium Times’ Reporter’s Arrest

Samuel Ogundipe - Premium Times Journalist, Held By Police

The Special Adviser on Media to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu, has stated that the continued detention of Premium Times’ journalist, Samuel Ogundipe, is an affront on the fourth estate of the realm and an assault on freedom of the press, freedom of speech and due process.

According to the Daily Post, Mr. Olaniyonu, a former Editor and Editorial Board Chairman with THISDAY newspapers, in a statement released on Thursday, reiterated that freedom of speech and due process must be adhered to in Ogundipe’s case, stating that journalists must be free to practice their profession without fear of intimidation by security Agencies.

See protesters at Police HQR yesterday:

At the Force Headquarters in Abuja yesterday morning to demand the release of Mr. Samuel Ogundipe of @PremiumTimesng.

The IGP of police is an irredeemable enemy of democracy. But we will resists every bit of this quasi-democracy that is being foisted on us.#FreeSamuelOgundipe pic.twitter.com/E6hJjxShKX

— OLÓRÍ OKO (@Adebayoraph) August 17, 2018

“As a journalist and media professional, I find it preposterous that Mr. Ogundipe has been held without recourse to due process for more than 48hours

“This is a democracy and even when it hurts, journalists must be free to write their truthful stories and protect their sources without the fear of being picked up and tried secretly.

How many people @PoliceNG go kill. Free Samuel Ogundipe.#TakeItback #Sowore2019 #AfricanActionCongress Sowore#FreeSamuelOgundipe #FreeSamuelOgundipeNow pic.twitter.com/ktJGtlZJGe

— YouthRising (@YouthRisingNG) August 16, 2018

“It is a settled issue in our jurisprudence that a journalist cannot be compelled to disclose the source of his or her information.

“In cases like Tony Momoh versus Senate, Ray Ekpu Vs IGP and many others, our courts have decided that the journalist cannot be compelled to reveal the source of his story.

“I want the world to know that, I and my colleagues in this profession will continue to stand alongside Samuel Ogundipe. We will continue to speak up for him and demand his immediate and unconditional release.

“We will also continue to demand that due process must be followed and freedom of speech and that of the press must be protected,” the journalist-turned-media aide added.

#FreeSamuelOgundipe @bbchausa @ptcij @amnesty @freepressunltd @CDDWestAfrica @IPCng @ICIJorg @WillFitzgibbon


Related Topics: #FreeSamuelOgundipe, #NigeriaPolice, #News, #PVCIsaGoal

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