Democracy thrives when journalists, truth protected – NUJ FCT

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has stated that democracy, the rule of law, transparency and accountability can only thrive when journalists and truth are protected.

NUJ FCT Council stated this in a press statement by the Council Chairman, Emmanuel Ogbeche, and the Council Secretary, Ochiaka Ugwu, to mark the 2020 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Monday in Abuja.

Every November 2, has been set aside by the United Nations for governments across the world to reaffirm commitments to end impunity for crimes against journalists and to create the enabling environment for the media to operate.

The council stated that democracy, the rule of law, transparency and accountability suffer when the media operates in an environment of fear, intimidation, harassment, physical assault and even murder.

“On the occasion of the 2020 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we call on the FCT administration, local authorities and the federal government to end all forms of impunity against journalists and to safeguard the constitutional guarantee of the media to hold government and its officials accountable to Nigerians,” the statement read in part.

According to the duo, it was regrettable that government agencies and officials continue to act arbitrarily and shun lawful requests on issues of transparency and accountability.

“It is worrying that government functionaries are oblivious of the fact that the best defence against fake news and speculations is openness and media access to information and government information.

“We align with the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, who said, “If we do not protect journalists, our ability to remain informed and make evidence-based decisions is severely hampered. When journalists cannot do their jobs in safety, we lose an important defence against the pandemic of misinformation and disinformation that has spread online.”

The Council recalled some of the abuses suffered by journalists in the FCT over the past years to include: brutalities meted out to about 11 journalists who went to cover the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of Nigeria’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on January 4, 2005.

The journalists were ordered by then Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr. Lawrence Alobi, to leave the vicinity of the PDP secretariat and then proceeded to supervise the harassment and brutalisation of the journalists.

Also, on January 9, 2007, in Abuja two newspapers: Leadership and The Abuja Inquirer were targeted, with a dozen DSS agents storming Leadership’s offices in the morning and took away the General Manager Abraham Nda-Isaiah, Editor Bashir Bello Akko and journalist Abdulazeez Sanni.

Also, Danladi Ndayebo was arrested the next day and was held for 10 hours, in the course of which he was forced to reveal the sources for his story.

On that same day, about 15 DSS agents carried out a similar raid on The Abuja Inquirer, searching its offices for three hours and arresting the Publisher Dan Akpovwa and the Editor Sonde Abbah.

When they left, they took with them 81 CDs, a computer, a list of all the newspaper’s staff, 18 copies of the latest issue and seven copies of previous issues.

Similarly, on April 26, 2012, Thisday Newspapers was targeted in Abuja by extremist group Boko Haram and three people were killed in an explosion at the premises of the newspaper.

On January 13, 2017, Desmond Utomwen, publisher of FreshNews, was arrested by a detachment of four police officers in plain clothes led by one Anthony Enobakhare and ASP Abubakar Iweafeno for reporting on the fraudulent enrichment of serving customs officer.

On January 6, 2019, armed soldiers in several vehicles laid siege to Daily Trust headquarters in Abuja over a report on army operations in Bornu.

Also, Kuni Tyessi sometime in 2015 was held for several hours by the DSS following a malicious compliant by a politician and university owner over a report she filed in the Leadership.

Recently, Augustine Aminu and several other journalists have either been invited by the DSS or harassed in the performance of their duties as journalists. This cannot continue.

The most telling issue at hand is the continued illegal detention of 73 year-old journalist and publisher Mr. Tom Oga Uhia, by the police over a complaint by the Minister of State, Power, Mr. Jeddy Agba.

The council said Uhia was being held through a dubious court order procured by the police from a magistrate court in Gurku-Mararaba, Nasarawa state.

“We demand the immediate release of Mr. Uhia who we understand has underlying health challenges. It should be noted that the cases mentioned are a fragment of the several cases of harassment, intimidation, physical and sexual assault and arrest and detention journalists have to endure in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” the statement said.

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