Ex-NUJ President Condemns Detention of Journalist Ugagbe

Lanre Ogundipe, the former president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the African Union of Journalists (AUJ), condemned the detention of journalist Stanley Ugagbe. In a statement issued on Sunday, Ogundipe described Ugagbe's arrest as part of a troubling trend where journalists are treated as fugitives, posing a serious threat to press freedom and the rule of law in Nigeria's democratic development.

He emphasized that the treatment of Ugagbe reflects an unhealthy pattern of criminalizing journalism instead of recognizing it as a legitimate profession responsible for informing the public. Ogundipe argued that the resort to secret arrests and prolonged detentions undermines the credibility of law enforcement institutions and violates established legal procedures.

He called for Ugagbe's immediate release unless there are sufficient legal grounds for his arraignment in a competent court. Ogundipe stressed the importance of respecting journalists' rights and maintaining public trust in democratic institutions.