The International Press Centre, IPC, has expressed its disapproval over the arrest of three Premium Times reporters by the Nigeria Police Force over a story the online newspaper published a revealing correspondence between Ibrahim Idris, the police boss and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
According to the IPC, three journalists with Premium Times, Samuel Ogundipe, Musikilu Mojeed, and Azeezat Adedigba were detained by the Nigerian police on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 and two of them have been released while Ogundibe, the security reporter remains in detention.
Ibrahim Idris, the inspector general of police had written a report on last Tuesday’s siege on the National Assembly to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo a letter obtained by The Trent on Thursday, August 9, 2018.
A copy of the report uploaded (below this article) showed that the report, personally signed by the IGP, was dated August 8, 2018, and entitled NASS Siege: IGP Writes Osinbajo, Recommends Search Of Daura’s House.
In the report, the IGP accused sacked director-general of the State Security Security, Lawal Daura, of abusing his office and working for “some highly placed politicians” and for “selfish interest”.
Below is the full statement by the IPC e-mailed to The Trent.
Impunity: IPC outraged over detention of Security Reporter by Police
The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria is outraged by the detention of Premium Times Security Sector Reporter Samuel Ogundipe as well as the Editor-In-chief, Musikilu Mojeed and the Education Reporter, Azeezat Adedigba on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.
While Mr. Mojeed and Ms. Adedigba were released after being arrested, detained and harassed, Mr. Ogundipe was still being held as at the time of this statement.
IPC 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.
We condemn the arrests and detention of the concerned journalists and hereby demand the immediate release of Mr. Ogundipe.
Lanre Arogundade
Director, IPC
