A group of New York-based journalists operating under the umbrella of Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for the immediately and unconditionally release of blogger, Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo and newspaper publisher, Samuel Welson.

In a statement signed and issued on Friday by CPJ West Africa representative, Peter Nkanga, the group urged the police to release the duo, and to cease prosecuting journalists on charges of defamation or publishing false news.

It can be recalled that Kemi Olunloyo, a controversial US trained journalist announced that she was arrested in Ibadan and driven more than 600 kilometers to Port Harcourt Prison for allegedly defaming the General Overseer of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie.

Nkanga noted that the controversial Instagram post that was published on Olunloyo’s handle and on Samuel Welson’s daily regional tabloid had already been withdrawn from further public circulation.

He also said that there was documentary evidence to show that when Olunloyo published the letter, she indicated that neither Pastor David Ibiyeomie nor actress Iyabo Ojo responded to her request for comment.

In condemning the continued detention of the two journalists in maximum security prison in Port-Harcourt, Nkanga said that defamation allegations should remain civil matter and not treated like a criminal offence that would warrant detention in prison.