Controversial Nigerian journalist Dr. Kemi Olunloyo (Madam KOO) has called out a colleague Tolu Ogunlesi on Twitter for his comment on how the Government harasses journalists.
Tolu Ogunlesi, who is a former Special Assistant on Digital/New Media to President Buhari took to the microblogging site to share his opinion on the energy that the government expends in intimidating journalists. He noted that if the government put same energy into fixing the lapses in the administration, it would be much wiser. This is coming as his reaction to the FG’s intention to arrest a journalist Fisayo Soyombo who recently did an undercover investigation on the corrupt practices in the Nigerian Prison, Ikoyi.
Tolu Ogunlesi
Fisayo, an investigative journalist with Cable News released the expose yesterday, detailing how he had spent two weeks in detention — five days in a Police cell and eight as an inmate in Ikoyi Prison — to track corruption in Nigeria’s criminal justice system, beginning from the moment of arrest by the Police to the point of release by the prison. The news of his intended arrest has spread like wildfire over the internet and has generated many opinions and thoughts, one of which was Tolu Ogunlesi’s.
He wrote, “The energies that Govt agencies expend trying to harass or intimidate journalists who expose lapses or wrongdoing in them would be much more wisely expended fixing those lapses and punishing culprits. This is a rule that will be true until the end of time. Selah.“
This, however, did not go down well with some tweeps, including Madam KOO, and she took to the microblogging site to call him out. Kemi Olunloyo queried him who the government agencies are, emphasizing the fact that he is the head of DigiComms Nigeria. She also asked why he whom she claims sees the President on a daily basis, and other journalists were quiet when she was arrested by the Police, DSS and EFCC.
“Tolu Tolu Tolu? How many times did I call you? You are the handler for @NGRPresident @MBuhari @DigiCommsNG and see the president daily. Who are “Govt Agencies?” Why were u and many Journalists QUIET when I was arrested by 14 @PoliceNG officers? DSS nko? @efcc nko #KeepFisayoSafe“, she wrote.
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Meanwhile, Kemi Olunloyo claimed that Fisayo Soyombo’s revelation confirmed the contents of her upcoming prison book Fraud. She noted that she also did the same undercover investigations in the prison, but she had no secret devices. “This guy Fisayo guy did what I was doing INSIDE the prison only different. He had secret devices. He may have violated section 29 of @CorrectionsNg law but he just pretty much confirmed contents of my upcoming prison book FRAUD/EXTORTION…”
