General News
OPAN DEMANDS IMMEDIATE FREEDOM FOR DETAINED JOURNALIST, OGUNDIPE & REITERATES CALL FOR REPEAL OF CYBER CRIMES ACT
The Online Publishers Association of Nigeria, OPAN, has observed with grave concern the persecution and illegal detention of Mr. Samuel Ogundipe, a journalist working for the Premium Times by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris and the Nigeria Police Force over a news story.
OPAN demands the immediate release of Ogundipe from police custody.
We find it ridiculous that the police would detain a journalist hiding under the distasteful Cyber Crimes Act and brag that he would only regain freedom after he discloses the source of his news story.
OPAN and other advocates of free press have repeatedly called for the repeal of the obnoxious Cyber Crimes Act 2015, which the police frequently cites whenever it assaults journalists and the press.
We also note that the news story for which the police is persecuting Ogundipe over, a letter written by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on the recent DSS siege to the National Assembly, was widely published by dozens of other news outlets.
It is therefore shocking why Ogundipe and Premium Times are being targeted by the Ibrahim Idris-led police force that has earned a bad reputation for their unending assault on journalists and press since the inception of the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government.
OPAN states that Ogundipe’s continued detention via a deceptively procured order of a magistrate is desperate and disingenuous of the Police IG and the entire police command.
Samuel Ogundipe’s continued detention is in gross violation of his rights and an affront on the Nigerian constitution which protects and guarantees the freedom of the press.
OPAN, therefore, calls on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to protect the press at all times and direct the Police to release Mr. Ogundipe immediately and unconditionally.
Signed:
Austyn Ogannah
President.
August 16, 2018
TETFUND Boss Sonny Echono Spends N841 Million On Solar Streetlights And Each Light Is N1 Million In Four Tertiary Institutions, Pays Consultancy For Them
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters As part of ongoing investigations into the financial books of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND)...
Exclusive: Ghana’s Fugitive Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta Buys $528,000 New York Mansion, Secretly Lives With Woman Who’s Not His Wife
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters While Ghana still bleeds from alleged financial crisis and economic deprivation caused by Kenneth Nana...
MTN The Silent Killer: How Citizen Nwatu Died Due To MTN Switched Off Network To Call For Help
Spread the lovePAUL UTEBOR For millions of Nigerians, poor network service has become more than an everyday inconvenience; it...
Another Lie? In INEC’s Form, President Tinubu Submits Another Person Phone Number & Email As His
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters In the documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 presidential election, President...
Unity Bank Is Diverting Electricity Bill Payment In Its Account And Paying N100 Million To Government Official Monthly As Cover Up – ALSTDI
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters When a river begins to flow in an unusual direction, the elders do not first argue...
Unity Bank Cooperative In Over ₦700 Million Financial Irregularities As Attorney General Fagbemi Gets Call To Investigate
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters They say when the drumbeat changes, the dance must also change. In Nigeria’s organised labour movement,...
NACAT Unveils ‘Breaking the Chains’ Initiative, Premieres Innocence for Sale Documentary to Strengthen Fight Against Human Trafficking
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) has launched a nationwide campaign against human trafficking with...
EXCLUSIVE: Police Indict Unity Bank Cooperative Officials in ₦85 Million Fraud Investigation
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters In an official police investigation report obtained by SecretsReporters, detectives of the Edo State Police Command...
Nigerian Police Conspires With House of Reps Member Austin Achado To Pay N725 Million For Consultancy To His Company In One Day
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters In a single day in May 2026, Nigeria’s Police Formations and Commands transferred more than ₦725...
Industrial Arbitration Panel Mandate Is To Resolve Cases But Now To Spend N2.8 Billion On Streetlights, Road and Community Projects Outside Statutory Mandate
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters A review of the 2026 Appropriation Bill by SecretsReporters has uncovered billions of naira in proposed...
Breaking The Law: Nigeria’s Finance Ministry Routes Over ₦208 Million in IMF, World Bank Travel Payments Through Single Beneficiary Mariam Lawal
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters A review of official government payment records by SecretsReporters has uncovered more than ₦208 million in...
SPECIAL REPORT: Ebonyi Governor Nwifuru Release N7.3 Billion To Purchase Vehicles, Zero Kobo Released For Hospitals
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters For residents of many rural communities in Ebonyi State, falling sick often means confronting a healthcare...
Crimes series: How Former NNPC Boss Bala Wunti-Led NAPIMS’ Paid ₦1.27bn As Investment To A Questionable Company Bypassing Presidential Approval
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters Documents obtained by SecretsReporters have raised questions over a ₦1,270,826,725 investment made by the National Petroleum...
UNIZIK inaugurates Afreximbank-backed trade research centre to advance AfCFTA
Spread the loveThe Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has inaugurated the Prof. Ngozi Egbuna International Centre for Regional Integration and Trade...
Army Builds Schools, Town Halls as Questions Grow Over Nigeria’s Deepening Security Crisis
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters As Nigeria continues to battle kidnappings, banditry, insurgency and violent attacks across several states, the Nigerian...
Emem Usoro Scandal: Journalist Stanley Ugagbe Remanded in Kuje Prison Over Cybercrime Charges
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters Journalist Stanley Ugagbe has been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre by the Federal High Court...
Fresh Transparency Concerns Rock NUPRC as Stakeholders Demand Forensic Audit of 2025 Oil Licensing Round
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters Fresh concerns have emerged over the integrity of Nigeria’s 2025 oil and gas licensing exercise, with...
ICPC Probes News Agency of Nigeria Over Alleged Recruitment Irregularities After Secrets Reporters Expose
Spread the loveSecretsReporters The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced an investigation into alleged recruitment...
While David Umahi Walks Free Of Homicide, Police File Six-Count Charge Against Fejiro Oliver And Ugagbe Over Reports on CBN Deputy Governor Emem Usoro
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters The Nigeria Police Force has filed a six-count criminal charge before the Federal High Court in...
Again Police Detain Journalist Stanley Ugagbe Ahead of Secret Planned Federal High Court Arraignment On Orders of CBN Deputy Governor Emem Usoro
Spread the loveSecrets Reporters Information reaching SecretsReporters from a credible source has revealed that a senior reporter with SecretsReporters, Stanley...