On Tuesday PREMIUM TIMES reporter, Samuel Ogundipe, was unlawfully detained by the Nigerian Police
over a report.
The CDD in a recently
released statement which was made available to Lailasnews, said the constant
attempt to intimidate journalist, is inimical to democracy.
See the CDD’s statement signed by its director, Idayat Hassan, below;
See the CDD’s statement signed by its director, Idayat Hassan, below;
CDD CONDEMN THE ARREST AND
DETENTION OF SAMUEL OGUNDIPE OF THE PREMIUMTIMES
The Centre for Democracy
and Development (CDD) condemn in strong terms the detention of Samuel Ogundipe
of the Premium Times. This case again points to the intolerance and clamp down
on the media, thoughts and fundamental rights by the Nigerian Police Force
(NPF). The constant attempt to intimidate journalist to cover the truth,
against the oath of speaking, search and unveiling the truth, men of the press
have sworn to uphold is not just inimical to democracy but the sustenance of
our hard fought and won democracy in Nigeria. As Walter Lippmann noted in
Liberty and the News, “There can be no higher law in journalism than, to tell
the truth, and shame the devil.”
CDD call on the Nigerian
Police Force under the leadership of Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim
Kpotun to immediately release Samuel Ogundipe. The protection of a source is a
sacred trust journalist uphold. Samuel Ogundipe has the right to protect the
secrecy of informants’ information.
We immediately call on the
Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, to respect the
fundamental rights of journalists and unconditionally release of Mr Ogundipe
from unlawful arrest and detention and bring to an end to all forms of
harassment of the fourth estate of the realm.
Release Mr Samuel Ogundipe
now!
Signed:
Idayat Hassan
Director
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