More Nigerians have taken to Twitter to demand the release of PREMIUM TIMES journalist, Samuel Ogundipe.
Mr. Ogundipe was arrested on Tuesday over a story on sacked Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Lawal Daura.
The police had reportedly asked Ogundipe to disclose how he obtained the letter the IGP wrote to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Daura but the journalist declined in line with the ethics of the profession.
He was secretly arraigned and charged with criminal trespass and theft of police document before a magistrate court in Abuja on Wednesday, without being granted access to his lawyers.
Worried about the growing attack on the media, Nigerians took to Twitter to knock the Nigerian government and express fears over a growing dictatorship.
This rising attack and detention of journalists in Nigeria signals a disturbing and gory descent back into the abyss of Decree 4.#FreeSamuelOgundipe#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— Adetutu Balogun (@Tutsy22) August 16, 2018
My head is full. I haven’t been able to concentrate since “overhauled” SARS picked Samuel up. This regime will do anything to stifle free speech. @PoliceNG arraigned a journalist secretly without disclosing his occupation. #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— Ms Boateng (@JoyceOdukoya) August 16, 2018
This is TYRANNY.
This is ILLEGAL. Detention without court prosecution. #ThisIsNigeria #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW pic.twitter.com/2gmFPmG94B— Jeremy Frankson 🇳🇬🇬🇧 (@jerryfrankson) August 16, 2018
The illegal detention of Samuel Ogundipe and recent appointment of @HMKemiAdeosun despite her lingering case of forgery as a board chairperson of NBET automatically burst the propaganda bubble that @ProfOsinbajo is better off than PMB #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— Kwankwasiyya 🔴 (@dadiyata) August 16, 2018
We can not remain silent in the face of injustice against the press#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW pic.twitter.com/xRQiroRKPq
— Eddy White (@eddywhite225) August 16, 2018
Now how do we expect journalists to do their work when their Freedom is been threatened?#FreeSamuelOgundipeNow #ThisIsNigeria pic.twitter.com/pW6WVC5XtQ
— Jeremy Frankson 🇳🇬🇬🇧 (@jerryfrankson) August 16, 2018
A country where freedom of expression and press is not allowed is failing. We demand that the police free Samuel Ogundipe. By the way the @PoliceNG should really begin to know their duties in this country. #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW pic.twitter.com/HDOmIlOKhK
— Vaughan (@temivaughan) August 16, 2018
Sometimes I wonder if Osinbajo is really what his propagandist wants us to believe he is. The guy tries But #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW #Ourmumudondo
— Natasha (@Natashanotables) August 16, 2018
So you people are not going to say anything about the illegal arrest and detention of @SamuelOgundipe by @NGPoliceForce .. Obviously you are all the same in politics… #corruptpoliticians
cc @APCNigeria @ProfOsinbajo @MBuhari #FreeSamuelOgundipe #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW— Olushola E. Ogunsemowo (@sholakrystal) August 16, 2018
The most annoying part is when the @PoliceNG says the document in question is not covered by FOI Act, okay, was it not because of their negligence that an hardworking journalist got it #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW #JournalismIsNotACrime
— Seyi Anjorin™ (@olieboie) August 16, 2018
This guy got furious dat @PoliceNG cld teargas citizens 4 requesting 4 d freedom of a journalist who was unlawfully arrested, detained & arraigned b4 a court without even a lawyer.#TakeItback #Sowore2019 #AfricanActionCongress Sowore#FreeSamuelOgundipe #FreeSamuelOgundipeNow pic.twitter.com/rZD9ANYP9n
— YouthRising (@YouthRisingNG) August 16, 2018
Oga Moshood said he’s not aware that Samuel Ogundipe was arraigned secretly and without a lawyer 😂😂#FreeSamuelOgundipe #PoliceBrutality #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW #FreePress
— AKUDO (@QueenExtha) August 16, 2018
Go and bring a senior officer to speak to us Sowore insisted as protesters got agitated for being ignored.#TakeItback #Sowore2019 #AfricanActionCongress Sowore#FreeSamuelOgundipe #FreeSamuelOgundipeNow pic.twitter.com/7yL02S3VPB
— Chukwuma Ciroma Adekunle (@ChukwumaCiroma) August 16, 2018
I Call for the total overhaul of the Nigeria Police Force ! . Where is the freedom of information we are practicing ? Our Journalist not allowed to do their work freely #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— Yohanna Isaac Okondi (@isaac_okondi) August 16, 2018
The detention of journalist Samuel is an affront to d freedom of d press.
I hereby call on HE @ProfOsinbajo to please prevail on @PoliceNG to release Samuel unconditionally because he has done no wrong. Confidentiality of sources is an ethic of journalism#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW— Steven Kefason (@realKefason) August 16, 2018
@ProfOsinbajo Sir,l think after the sack of the DG of DSS,that of the IGP Idris should follow suit,for the senseless detention of a journalist without access to Legal Counsel
This is a classical example of how ordinary Nigerians are abused by the @PoliceNG#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— ‘Kúnlé ÒKÉ✊4🇳🇬 (@koldfaze) August 16, 2018
The Nigerian battle is just becoming more fierce by the day.
We are supposed to be leaving in FREEDOM but yet we are in FREE_DOOM.
#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW— Erhayanmen Michael (@mykellionaire) August 16, 2018
Samuel Ogundipe, a young brilliant journalist is being held for…being a journalist.
All young people who work for Buhari like @toluogunlesi should speak up. This is ridiculous. Is it a military regime?#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— The Son of Man (@olufemisp) August 16, 2018
SPACES FOR CHANGE issues a press statement condemning the arrest and detention of Premium Times Reporter, Samuel Ogundipe.
STOP GAGGING THE MEDIA!!! #FreeSamuelOgundipeNow! pic.twitter.com/w5jn27r3v0— Spaces for Change (@Spaces4Change) August 16, 2018
@ProfOsinbajo The Nigerian police is dragging us back to the draconian days of no press freedom and harassment of investigative journalists. The IG should be called to order and possibly the big stick wielded against him #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— Apata Gbenga (@gbengapata) August 16, 2018
Let us even forget about issues of poverty and economy, the issues of police brutality & human rights abuse worries me more about this administration. I never want to go back to those dark ages of military rule. #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— Rex Showunmi (@remirex) August 16, 2018
Today at the @PoliceNG FHQ, myself, colleagues, @adeyanjudeji @YeleSowore were teargassed for demanding for the unconditional release of @SamuelOgundipe while the FPRO tried to defend its illegality. All we demand is #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW #JournalismIsNotACrime
— Seyi Anjorin™ (@olieboie) August 16, 2018
#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
This is a democracy and not a military era where the press are subjugated. @ProfOsinbajo @MBuhari @PoliceNG
— Uche Samuel (@uchesame) August 16, 2018
@ProfOsinbajo@NGRPresident @PoliceNG
NIGERIA IS A FEDERAL STATE. DEMOCRACY IS OUR SYSTEM OF GOVT. I JOIN THOUSANDS OF NIGERIANS IN DEMAND TO IMMEDIATELY FREE . #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW pic.twitter.com/AHYDsP752V— MANDU PREYE (@mandu_preye) August 16, 2018
The police and the govt knows this, that’s why they’ve resorted to secret trial with trumped-up charges..
The day he is being charged openly, is the same day the case dies..@PoliceNG, #FreeSamuelOgundipe #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— Okodi Okodi (@Okodi_KOD) August 16, 2018
This is not the norm! We can’t have silence from the @NGRPresident @NGRSenate @policeng n the entire govt. You can’t just take a man’s right when you feel like, the IGP is not worth that position if he can be unjust. This is democracy. #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— •The Pope• (@BenedictDayas) August 16, 2018
#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW pls Ag President should pls call the NPF into order before they push the youth to do the damage
— Sunny (@SundayOlasunbo) August 16, 2018
Now, the report is out in the public..
It is against the rules of journalism to disclose the source of an information..It is an oath of journalism..
Torturing @SamuelOgundipe by @PoliceNG will only make matters worse..#FreeSamuelOgundipe #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW https://t.co/CPbCMc9Ito— Okodi Okodi (@Okodi_KOD) August 16, 2018
#FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW they are only doing their job!
— Michael Voke (@michael_voke) August 16, 2018
Earlier this morning. Completed my voter’s card transfer request.
Most persons slept here just to get registered. #GetYourPVC #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG pic.twitter.com/gmarcPs5mG
— Abada (@akvnne) August 16, 2018
Being a journalist in Nigeria is such a thankless job #FreeSamuelOgundipeNOW
— Sus Khalifa (@susezni) August 16, 2018
