A former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the African Union of Journalists (AUJ), Lanre Ogundipe, has called for the immediate release of journalist Stanley Ugagbe, warning that the growing trend of treating journalists as criminals poses a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Ogundipe described Ugagbe’s arrest and continued detention as a development that goes beyond the liberty of one individual, saying it raises serious concerns about the attitude of some law enforcement agencies towards journalists carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.
According to him, journalists should not be subjected to arbitrary arrest, intimidation or prolonged detention for publishing information in the public interest.
He noted that where a journalist is alleged to have violated any law, the Constitution and existing statutes provide clear procedures for investigation, invitation and prosecution, rather than secretive arrests or coercive tactics.
“The media is not an adversary of the State. It is a vital democratic institution entrusted with informing citizens, holding public officials accountable and strengthening transparency.
Efforts to criminalise journalism through intimidation or abuse of state power weaken the democratic principles upon which our nation is founded,” he said.
Reflecting on his nearly five decades in journalism, including his tenure as President of both the NUJ and AUJ, Ogundipe expressed concern that Nigeria’s democratic gains were being threatened by actions capable of creating fear within the media.
He said, “Many of us endured years of repression in the struggle for democracy. It would be tragic if our hard-earned democratic gains were gradually eroded by actions that intimidate journalists and discourage responsible public-interest reporting.”
Ogundipe urged the relevant authorities to either release Ugagbe immediately or arraign him before a court of competent jurisdiction if there is sufficient evidence that he committed any offence.
He also called on law enforcement agencies to respect the constitutional rights of journalists and engage the media within the confines of the law.
According to him, “Democracy flourishes when the press is free to perform its watchdog role without fear of persecution or intimidation.”
He concluded that a nation that treats its journalists as fugitives diminishes the dignity of its laws, weakens public confidence in its institutions and endangers the foundations of its democracy.
