‘I Was Accused Of Stealing Secret Documents,’ Says Arrested Premium Times Journalist

The arrested and detained Premium Times journalist, Samuel Ogundipe, has spoken on his detainment by the Nigeria Police.

The reporter, in a brief narration, said the police accused him of stealing secret documents.

Recall that the police had demanded that Ogundipe disclose how he obtained a letter the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris wrote to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on the sacked Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura.

However, the journalist declined in line with the ethics of the profession.

The journalist, in a brief statement, said he was secretly arraigned before a magistrate court in Kubwa, Abuja, on Wednesday, without being granted access to his lawyers.

He was quoted as saying: “They brought me to a magistrate court in Kubwa where they arraigned me. The magistrate said they should detain me for five days.

“They accused me of criminal trespass. They said I stole secret documents. The magistrate does not know the details, because they did not include in the charge that I am a journalist. I was not allowed to contact my lawyers.

“They also did not allow me to call anyone until the magistrate ordered them to let me make one call. I am currently using the registrar’s phone to make this call and they are collecting it.”

Meanwhile, Nigerian activists, civil society leaders and journalists have started a protest at the police headquarters in Abuja, demanding the release of Ogundipe.

The demonstration is led by the #TakebackNigeriaMovement and the #OurMumuDonDo, and is holding in front of the police’s Louis Edet House.