Premium Times Reporter’s Arrest: Police statements misleading and prejudicial – lawyer

Counsel to Premium Times Services Ltd, owners and publishers of Premium Times online publication, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, has berated the Nigeria Police over its statements on the arrest of Mr Samuel Ogundipe saying that police statements were misleading and prejudicial.

Media report has it that he spokesman of police, DCP Jimoh Moshood, in a statement said that Ogundipe was being investigated and prosecuted for theft and unlawful possession of restricted and classified document.

Recall that Ogundipe was arrested on Aug.14 for allegedly publishing Inspector-General of police interim report on the siege on the National Assembly gates by operatives of the DSS.

A statement by Ogunye on Thursday in Abuja, said that Ogundipe did not commit any offence under the Nigerian law.

“May we state that contrary to the misleading and prejudicial statements and assertions of ACP Jimoh, Mr. Samuel Ogundipe has not committed any offence known to law,” he said.

READ ALSO:-Premium Times reporter arrested over unlawful possession of classified documents -Police

Ogunye said that there was no law in the country that compelled a journalist to disclose the ffg556source of information for a published story like the police were insisting.

He said that Moshood deliberately misstated the position of the law which is the Nigerian law and not that of the Nigerian police.

The counsel added that because the police could not compel Ogundipe to disclose his source, it has resorted to blackmail.

“Our client sure has a solid defence to this charge, and need not, at this stage, engage in needless argument with the Police.

“However it suffices to categorically state that the burden of proof in a criminal action lies on the prosecution,” he said.

He called on the Federal Government, in particular the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, to intervene and save Ogundipe.

“The Presidency cannot look on while the police is operating like a colonial power without any regard to the due process of law, the rule of law and respects for the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights of journalists,” he said.