GOCOP Calls For Immediate Release Of Premium Times Journalist

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has called for the immediate release of Premium Times Security Reporter, Samuel Ogundipe.

Ogundipe was detained by the Nigeria Police Force over a report on a correspondence sent by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to acting President Yemi Osinbajo on the sacked Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura.

Recall Daura was dismissed last week by Osinbajo for deploying DSS operatives to the National Assembly in a show of power.

Ogundipe’s decision to stand on his feet, vowing not to be intimidated and refusal to disclose the source of his report landed him in the hands of the Police.

The police held on to the Journalist with no contact with his family or employers, against the Nigerian constitution which states that the Press shall at all times be free to hold the government accountable to the people.

On the same note, through a statement, GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Olumide Iyanda, On Wednesday, also faulted the arrest and embarrassment that was lashed out on the newspaper Editor-In-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, and Education Reporter, Azeezat Adedigba, both of who have been released from the detention of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

Noting with shock that the Police action was carried out on the day Acting President Yemi Osinbajo ordered the restructuring of the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, the guild aligned with several groups and individuals to accuse President Muhammadu Buhari Government of gross abuse of citizens’ rights.

GOCOP, therefore, demanded the release of Ogundipe and other journalists held by the Police and other government agencies, as they urged the Government to lecture its security agents on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, which confers Journalism Confidentiality Privileges on the media.