A coalition of civil society groups, #OurMumuDondo, earlier stormed the police headquarters, Abuja to demand the release of the Premium Times reporter.
The Group Led by popular musician, Charly Boy, the protesters insisted on the release of the reporter, noting that they would not leave until he was freed.
The activists briefly barricaded the Shehu Shagari Way, forcing motorists to ply alternative routes.
Presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, knocked the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for pressurizing Ogundipe to disclose his source.
Another activist, Ralph Adebayo, described the IG as ignorant, noting that “he has been transmitting confusion since he became the police boss, stumbling from one controversy to another.”
The convener, Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, said the group would continue to besiege the police headquarters daily until their demand was met.
Addressing the protesters, Moshood said the detention of the journalist was not a punishment, a claim that annoyed the campaigners, who objected loudly.
Asked why Ogundipe’s bank account was frozen, the force spokesman said, “It is part of the investigation; we should try to educate ourselves. The Judges’ rule permits the police if an offence is committed in Abuja to go as far as Lagos to get evidence in the resolution of the matter.”
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, has written to the United Nations over the arrest and detention of the reporter.
This was as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, condemned the arrest and detention of the journalist, describing it as a re-enactment of the “inglorious locust days of Decree No. 4 of 1984 under President Muhammadu Buhari, then as a military dictator.”
Source: Punch Ng
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