ABSENCE OF JUDGE STALLS TRIAL OF PREMIUM TIMES JOURNALIST
Penpushing recalled that, the police first arraigned the journalist before the court on August 15, a day after he was arrested on unfounded allegations, alleging him of ‘stolen secret police documents’, arguing that the purported offence contradicted the Official Secrets Act, one of the vestiges of a repressive colonial era.
It is also recalled that, the arrest of Ogundipe followed his story of August 9, which report was based on a the preliminary findings the police submitted to then-Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on the August 7 siege which men of the State Security Service laid to the National Assembly.
The Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris apparently angered, ordered Ogundipe’s arrest and demanded to know how the reporter source of obtaining the police’s document, and also placed him in detention from August 14 until August 17 when he was granted bail.
Penpushing recalled that, the ugly development drew widespread condemnation from prominent local and international rights organisations and personalities, describing the police action as an illegal intimidation of a journalist and crude display of police power.
The management of Premium Times also strongly condemned the repressive tactics of the police took against its reporter, and asked them to apologise for their action and immediately drop all criminal charges.
