The Peoples Gazette reporter, Ayoola Babalola, who first reported the story on the alleged phone conversation between Peter Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo has been suspended by the organization for alleged violations of the company’s social media policy.
The suspension followed the reporter’s harsh response to trolls following the story that supporters of Obi had alleged was doctored.
Oyedepo had also denied campaigning for any presidential candidate or politician.
Reports said that supporters of Obi had also alleged that the reporter, Ayoola Babalola, acted out of political bias.
Amid the controversies, he was alleged to have reacted with vitriol against the social media policy of the organization.
A memo from Deputy Managing Editor Boladale Adekoya, on Tuesday, directed Ayoola Babalola to proceed on a one-month suspension.
“Ayoola Babalola met with the HR, where he was directed to proceed on suspension for one month without pay,” Mr Adekoya said in the internal memo sent to all newsroom employees.
“Mr Babalola is a vibrant and respected member of the organisation’s editorial team,” the publication’s senior staff member noted, but stressed the reporter’s “conduct on social media, both from months past and as recently as last weekend, grossly violated the organisation’s guideline on personnel conduct.”
The management made the decision after carefully reviewing the reporter’s scathing retorts to relentless online trolls and concluded that Mr Babalola did not act with decorum and professionalism expected of The Gazette’s employees.
The Peoples Gazette management asserted that the suspension was a challenging decision “for the organisation: Mr Babalola faced vicious attacks on social media following our scoop on Peter Obi’s phone call with Bishop Oyedepo.”
“Still, while the organisation sympathises and stands strongly with Mr Babalola and all staff members who come frequently under social media onslaught, the manner with which colleagues handle online trolls is what distinguishes us as professionals.”
Although the controversial tweets had been taken down by Mr Babalola, screenshots of the tweets could still “impugn our professionalism, PG, well into the future. This should never have happened,” the senior editor stressed.
“The management appreciates Mr Babalola’s service and cooperation in the course of handling this situation. This informed the decision to let him proceed on a one-month suspension with counselling.”
