Premium Times Services Ltd , owners and publishers of Premium Times online publication, said that statements by the Nigeria Police on the arrest of Mr. Samuel Ogundipe were misleading and prejudicial.
The spokesman of police, DCP Jimoh Moshood, said in a statement that the premium times reporter was being investigated and prosecuted for theft and unlawful possession of restricted and classified document.
The Premium times reporter was arrested on Aug.14 for alleged publication of the Inspector-General of police interim report on the blockade of the National Assembly gates by operatives of the DSS.
A statement by Legal Adviser and Counsel to premium times, Jiti 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.
Ogunye said that there was no law in the country that compelled a journalist to disclose the source 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.
Read: Court Threatens IG of Police with Imprisonment over Illegal Detention
The counsel added that because the police could not compel the premium times reporter to disclose his source, it has resorted to blackmail.
“Our client sure has a solid defense 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