The senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has joined other Nigerians and international originations in condemning the arrest and detention of PREMIUM TIMES’ reporter, Samuel Ogundipe.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti also joined the call for the release of Mr Ogundipe.
Mr Sani, who called for the unconditional release of Mr Ogundipe on Twitter on Wednesday, said free press is the fortress and the bastion of democracy.
“I stand for Samuel Ogundipe and I call for his unconditional release. Free press is the fortress and the Bastion of democracy,” Mr Sani said.
Mr Fayose, outgoing governor of Ekiti State, also condemned the detention.
“The arrest and detention of Samuel Ogundipe of @PremiumTimesng by the police must be condemned by all lovers of freedom of speech and of the press. I join other well meaning Nigerians to call for his immediate release. #FreeSamuelOgundipe,” Mr Fayose wrote on his verified Twitter handle.
Mr Ogundipe was arrested and detained on Tuesday by police officers who insist that he must disclose the source of a story he wrote.
Mr. Ogundipe’s arrest has elicited much condemnation from Nigerians and international organisations, while hashtag #FreeSamuelOgundipe has also been trending on Twitter since Mr Ogundipe was detained.
However, officials at the police headquarters told PREMIUM TIMES that the directive to detain the journalist came directly from the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who is said to be angry at this newspaper’s critical reporting of his activities.
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