Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of OpenLife
The National Association of Online Security Reporters (NAOSRE) has warned security agencies against harassing or abducting Mr. Idumonza Isidahomhen, publisher and Editor-in-Chief of OpenLife, a pan African news magazine, over a report published by his platform containing negative allegations against the privately-owned Afe Babalola University.
OpenLife published on August 19, 2021 a story titled “Afe Babalola University In rumbles As Parents Complain Of Fraud”. The story claims fraudulent and exploitative activities were carried out at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) in the admission of students and administration of the institution.
The report accused ABUAD of admitting about 400 students, making them pay outrageously higher than other institutions only to graduate 100 students at the end of six years an action their parents has described as “fraudulent and exploitative”.
NAOSRE raised the alarm over the move to arrest the Editor-in-Chief who also doubles as its Public Relations Officer in a statement made available to the media.
NAOSRE National President, Mr. Femi Oyewale, in the statement urged security agencies to respect journalists as essential service providers and a major partner in the efforts to close the gap between security agencies and the general public.
Mr. Oyewale said officers from Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Police went to Lagos on September 3, 2021 with the intention of picking up Idumonza in what the police called an ‘order from above.’
The association called on the Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba to caution his officers against abducting the publisher.
