Peoples Gazette has suspended Ayoola Babalola, one of its talented and respected reporters, over his conduct online that violated the newspaper’s social media policy and called into question its integrity.

The decision was announced in a company-wide memo from Deputy Managing Editor Boladale Adekoya on Tuesday.

“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 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.

Mr Adekoya, however, noted 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 one-month suspension with counselling.”

The senior editor expressed optimism in welcoming back Mr Babalola into the organisation after his suspension and counselling sessions were over.

“We are happy to welcome Mr Babalola back to continue his fearless journalism in this organisation,” said Mr Adekoya in the final paragraph of the memo.

Mr Babalola currently covers the political desk at The Gazette and has previously worked with U.S.-based Sahara Reporters.

https://gazettengr.com/peoples-gazette-suspends-reporter-amidst-probe-into-social-media-policy-violations/

Naso.

The hatchet job has been carried out already with the said leaked audio.

It's now time for laundry by the media house

Nigeria has lost the kind of journalism Dele Giwa and Ray Ekpu were known for. What we have now are mainly hungry soulless journalists who shamelessly collect money to do politicians hatchet job of pulling down opponents.

Obi is really a man grace.
They're now fighting themselves

He should resign and start his own yellow journalism platform. I’m sure he has mastered the ropes on how to publish lies, falsehood and propaganda from Samuel Ogundipe. Ogundipe himself was suspended from PremiumTimes for publishing lies before he resigned to start PG. Long live the fake news publication industry.

Thank you Mr Babalola, you did a great job. As a Pro-Obi and anti Tinubu media house, they are not happy with your revelation. Thank you for standing for the truth!

Well, I don't see that helpi matters. The deed already has been done and the harm inflicted. He should tell who wire tapped the conversation.

seunmsg:
He should resign and start his own yellow journalism platform. I’m sure he has mastered the ropes on how to publish lies, falsehood and propaganda from Samuel Ogundipe. Ogundipe himself was suspended from PremiumTimes for publishing lies before he resigned to start PG. Long live the fake news publication industry.

You know something, Kadoso? I am investigating you. How you have been so successful in circumventing Seun's firewalls and bans worthy of PhD research.😆😆😆

Scratchy eyes invites the urge for raising brows. The aroma of the food they're cooking and waiting to feast on is already getting soured! A confession and apology in waiting. smh

Was banned for engaging trolls, not for the article itself

Never engage online trolls..ignore them

seunmsg:
He should resign and start his own yellow journalism platform. I’m sure he has mastered the ropes on how to publish lies, falsehood and propaganda from Samuel Ogundipe. Ogundipe himself was suspended from PremiumTimes for publishing lies before he resigned to start PG. Long live the fake news publication industry.

Yes let the brown envelope journalist who posted the fake Obi audio open his own fake journalism firm.

This is why he was suspended and it has nothing to do with the audio.

What happened was that after the audio was release, Obidients started blackmailing People Gazette withe the previous comment of Babalola on social media where it was seen that he troll Obidients anytime they abuse him personally. So I guess, People Gazette suspended him to maintain their credibility and non-biasness.

The audio news still remain on all People Gazette platform and on their Twitter page.

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.

“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 Adekoya, however, noted 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.”

Nonny95:
Naso.

The hatchet job has been carried out already with the said leaked audio.

It's now time for laundry by the media house

You better go and learn how to read.

Nothing concern the audio of the religious bigot Obi with the guy suspension.

People Gazette are denying Mr. Babalola his right to free speech. Why suspend him because he attacked trolls back?

Okay