FreeSamuelOgundipe Pays Off As Court Grant Bail To Detained Premium Times Journalist

Samuel Ogundipe, the PREMIUM TIMES Journalist

Mr. Samuel Ogundipe, the PREMIUM TIMES Journalist, who has been under detention since Tuesday has been granted bail by the Court and released.

The journalist was released Friday morning after he was granted bail by  Magistrate Abdulwahab Mohammed of the Kubwa Grade 1 Magistrate Court in Kubwa, Abuja.

According to the PREMIUM TIMES, the presiding Magistrate received the case on Wednesday after Mr Ogundipe was secretly arraigned without being allowed any legal representation. On that day, Mr Mohammed granted a request by the police that the journalist be detained for five days until August 20.

PREMIUM TIMES however on Friday morning, learnt that Ogundipe was to be taken to the same court where order to detain him was first obtained and the lawyer to the Company was promptly present at the court.

After taking the plea from the accused, the Company lawyer asked for his bail, a request that was not opposed by the police prosecutor.

The Magistrate, Mr Mohammed granted the bail in the sum of N500,000 and a surety in like sum, who must be resident withing the court’s jurisdiction.

Subsequently, the bail conditions were met and Mr Ogundipe was immediately released.

It could be recalled that earlier on Thursday, PREMIUM TIMES had responded to a statement by police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, accusing Mr Ogundipe of being in possession of classified document.

READ ALSO: #FreeSamuelOgundipe - Bukola Saraki’s Spokesman Speaks About Premium Times’ Reporter’s Arrest

The Police Spokesperson alleged that Mr Ogundipe’s action was capable of causing a breach of national security and a breakdown of law and order.

PREMIUM TIMES in it's response through their lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, said Mr Moshood’s statement was “misleading and prejudicial.”

Recall that Mr Ogundipe had been held since Tuesday for refusing to disclose his source for a story. The story, also published by other news media, revealed a report by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. The report which indicted sacked Director General of the Department State Security (DSS) Lawal Daura for his role in the blockade of the National Assembly last week.

The Journalist, Mr Ogundipe’s detention has been condemned by Nigerians, local and international rights groups including Amnesty International and Committee to Protect Journalists.

Related Topics: #FreeSamuelOgundipe #NigeriaPolice #News #bbchausa  #ptcij  #amnesty  #freepressunltd  #CDDWestAfrica  #IPCng  #ICIJorg  #WillFitzgibbon

Sharing is caring. Share this story