The Nation Newspaper

Tag: journalists

  • Police detain four journalists over report on opposition leaders

    Police detain four journalists over report on opposition leaders

    What appears to be an era of media intolerance is gradually creeping in. The police yesterday detained four journalists with a national daily – Leadership.

    They are being detained at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, over their refusal to disclose the source of information in respect of a published story entitled: “Outrage trails presidential directive on Tinubu and APC”.

    The story and a bromide containing the said presidential directive on leading opposition leaders in the country were recently published by the paper.

    Troubled by the story, which it had denied, the Presidency, it was learnt. prompted the police to invite the authors.

    Mrs. Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe, Tony Amokeodo, Chibuzor Ukaibe and Chuks Ohuegbe reported at the Force Headquarters yesterday morning to honour the police’s invitation.

    In a statement yesterday, the Group Managing Director, Leadership Group Limited, Azubuike Ishiekwene, confirmed the detention of the reporters.

    The newspaper said it was standing by its story and urged the government to go to court if it was uncomfortable with the report.

    It also said its officials, being trained journalists, would not betray the ethics of their profession by disclosing the source of their information, as being sought by the government.

    The statement reads: “The Director, Human Capital and former Leadership Sunday Editor, Mrs. Fred-Adegbulugbe, who led the journalists, said, ‘After the journalists finished writing statements, DIG Peter Gana suddenly excused himself on a call from IGP Mohammed Abubakar.

    “We were later told that we would not be allowed to leave, except we produced the source of the story. It was clear that this was not the call of the police. It is from President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “We told them that it would be unethical to disclose our source and asked them to charge us to court, if they wanted.

    “They said they wanted to have the document. We said the bromide had been published and wondered why they were making such a fuss, since they said the document was a work of fiction.

    “They have made it clear that we would not be released, except we give them the document. We can’t get out. I was escorted to use the toilet after begging.

    “This is a calculated and brazen affront on press freedom; we are bereft that a supposedly elected government will come this low.

    “We demand the unconditional and immediate release of our journalists – Mrs. Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe (Director, Human Capital); Chuks Ohuegbe (Managing Editor); Tony Amokeodo (Group News Editor); and ChibuzorUkaibe (a Politics Reporter).

    “President Jonathan and his handlers need to tell Nigerians and the civilised world why they have suddenly moved from describing the document as ‘fiction,’ to a do-or-die obsession with knowing the source; they need to tell Nigerians most of who now live in mortal fear of their personal safety and security, if clamping down on the press has now become a priority sport.

    “On our part, we wish to restate our resolve to continue to hold the government to account as enshrined in Chapter 22 of the Constitution and to remain resolute in championing the course of press freedom and the right of the people to know.

    “We stand by our story and will neither be cowed nor intimidated by the strong-arm tactics of President Jonathan nor by the puerile attempts by his spokesmen – Doyin Okupe and Dr. Reuben Abati – to tarnish our report.”

    One of the detained journalists told The Nation by 5pm yesterday that: “We were being kept by three officers from the Office of the DIG Gana on the 7th Floor. Three officers asked Chibuzor and I to write statement. We told them that they could not compel us because we honoured their invitation.

    “I simply wrote that I received the document in the course of my duties. I also wrote that when the Presidency said the story was false, we published the bromide to authenticate the story.

    “When they said that I must disclose the source of the bromide, I replied that the ethics of the profession did not permit me to do so. Based on our insistence on this, they are still keeping us.”

    The police had, by a letter dated April 7, 2013, signed by Danmallam Mohammed, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin) for the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), ‘D’ Department, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja, invited the journalists.

    The company was, by the letter addressed to its chairman, requested to release the journalists “to interview the Deputy Inspector General of Police, D’ Department, FCID on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 1000hrs through the undersigned”.

    The letter urged the company to “note that it is your civic and corporate responsibility to assist police investigation by honouring its invitation in the interest of justice and due process”.

  • Two Nigerian journalists brutalised by South African police

    Two Nigerian journalists brutalised by South African police

    Two Nigerian journalists covering the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were kicked, dragged on the ground, threatened with cocked guns and forcibly detained for two hours by officers of the South African police in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon.

    Debo Oshudun, Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for Central and Southern Africa and John Joshua Akanji, a Deputy Editor of The Sun Newspapers were onboard a taxi on their way to cover the departure of the AFCON winners Super Eagles when shortly after they both alighted, they were surrounded by no less than 20 fully armed South African police officers who threatened to shoot them after they insisted they were Journalists.

    The duo, who narrated their story to SportingLife, were grateful to God for sparing their lives.

    “I thank God we are still alive because we could have been shot, knowing the type of (extra-) judicial killings in South Africa. I have never been in that situation in my life. I was dragged on the floor, kicked and brutalised. I and John Joshua-Akanji were disposed of our phones, my keys and we couldn’t contact anybody. We were detained for two hours and I was really traumatised throughout the time the police dealt with us and still imagining it up till now.

    “The police claimed that they stopped our car because the taxi we were in had a number plate with two different characters. Immediately they stopped us they removed the number plate. They lied that they had been trailing us,” Oshundun told SportingLife in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon.

    Joshua-Akanji had to miss his South African Airways flight due to the torture he received from the South African Police.

    The Sun Newspaper Deputy Editor also narrated his ordeal to SportingLife in Johannesburg yesterday.

    “I was in a trance. I thought I was acting out a movie. I never thought it was for real. I have never seen a thing like this in all my life. But I am happy to be alive to tell the story”, the visibly shaken journalist disclosed. 20 policemen, who had already cocked their guns and pointed them to my head and my colleague Oshundun’s, were shouting ‘I will shoot you, I will shoot you. Who are you? Do you think you are special? I will blast your brains off’”, Joshua-Akanji revealed.

    Lieutenant Colonel M. F. Tshabalala station commander, Sandringham Command South African Police Service, SAPS, later apologised for the treatment meted out on the Nigeria Journalists.

    It took the intervention of the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg to secure the release of both men. There are no indications yet, if the Journalists will press charges against the South African Police.

    The two journalists however commended Hope, the South African taxi driver for daring his country’s police by rising to the defence of the Nigerians. “These men are responsible journalists that have come here to cover the AFCON. They are like brothers to me. I ate and dinned with them. They have been wonderful to me as a South African. Why are you treating them this way? It’s not fair! it’s not fair!”, Hope is said to have cried out while the policemen were brutalising the West Africans.

  • Journalists’ Estate residents appeal to Tambuwal, others

    Residents of Journalists’ Estate in Arepo, Ogun- State  have appealed to Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and the Sokoto State Governor Alhaji Aliu Wammako,  to redeem  their pledges  for the completion of the estate’s community  centre.

    The duo, along with Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, had pledged to contribute towards Journalists Estate Residents Development Association’s (JERDA’s) initiative in building an ultra-modern community centre for residents of the estate, planned to be the first of its kind in Africa.

    JERDA  had embarked on an appeal fund during the tuning of the sod of the community centre by Tambuwal where Wammako was the special guest of honour on an occasion held with pomp and pageantry.

    Tambuwal, who represented by Hon. Olumide Osoba, a lawmaker representing Obada-Owode Federal Constituency, pledged that Tambuwal would donate to the project.

    The Sokoto State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Danladi Bako, who represented the state governor pledged to support the project with an initial N5million and monitor the project till completion.

    Amosun, who was represented by the Works and Housing Commissioner and his Information Commissioner, Messers Lekan Adegbite and Alhaji Yusuf Olaniyonu also pledged N5 million.

    Amosun has since redeemed his pledge. ButWammako andTambuwal have not.

    In a chat with select reporters at Arepo last week shortly after the vandalism of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline by some oil thieves, Chairman of the Estate, Mr Gbayode Somuyiwa, said the first phase of the community centre would soon be decked, adding that work has progressed tremendously since the foundation laying ceremony last year.

    However, he lamented that the delay being encountered  was due to paucity of funds because some of the supporters and promoters of the project were yet to redeem their pledges.

    Commending the donors’gestures, Somuyiwa appealed to Wammako and Tambuwal not to renege on their promises, adding that all hopes of residents lie in the pledges.

    “I want to specially appeal to our donors and supporters, especially Governor Wammako and Tambuwal to come to our aid as quickly as possible as we cannot afford to abandon this project’, he said.

    Somuyiwa, who acknowledged that these personalities are great Nigerians for identifying with such a noble cause, said other state governments could also learn from the governor of Ogun State.

    He expressed JERDA’s appreciation to the Ogun State governor for the prompt redemption of his pledge. He urged the governor not to relent until the project is completed.

     

  • Editors deplore illegal arrest of journalists

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has deplored the illegal harassment, brutalisation and incarceration of journalists.

    NGE, after a meeting of its Standing Committee in Lagos, urged the authorities “to engage the media according to the constitution and rule of law.

    It called for protection of journalists and freedom of expression.

    The body, in a communiqué after its meeting, signed by its President, Gbenga Adefaye and Assistant Secretary, Steve Ayorinde, enjoined journalists to observe the ethics of the profession, publish facts and be socially responsible in the discharge of their duties.

    NGE frowned at a practice where the health situation of ailing public officers is hidden from the people, and in the process, subjecting journalists to speculation.

    It said it would conduct its biennial convention in February to elect new officers.

    “The Guild notes the security challenges facing the country and hopes that with the cooperation of all, 2013 will witness an improvement as promised by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “The Guild enjoins government to invest in an improved health care delivery system in the country and advises public officers to take the people into confidence about their state of health, instead of putting the media in an embarrassing situation of speculation when public officers stay away from their duty posts for a long period,” it said.

  • Journalists honour lawmaker

    Chairman, Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Olulade was recently honoured with an award by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigerian (CRAN) for his efforts at ensuring that peace reigns in his Epe constituency.

    According to the CRAN team, the award is in recognition of the laudable efforts of Olulade in the attainment of a peaceful, humane and crime-free society especially in his Epe Constituency II of Lagos State where he facilitated the deployment of some men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to curb the menace of armed robbery attacks in the area.

    The team of crime reporters, which comprised Mr. Victor Akindele of the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper, Mr. Femi Akinkungbe of the Leadership Newspaper and Mr Taiwo Jimoh of Nigerian Compass, maintained that Olulade has been very outstanding in his contribution to security and crime reduction in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

    Receiving the award, Olulade said that the award has afforded him an opportunity to re-dedicate himself to the security of lives and properties of the people, while also promising to further bring security issues to the front burner on the floor of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

     

  • 20 Journalists get scholarship in Rivers

    The Commissioner for Information and Communication in Rivers, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, has advised Nigerian journalists to update their knowledge through training.

    The commissioner gave the advice in Port Harcourt on Friday at the presentation of scholarship award to 20 journalists.

    The scholarship award was instituted by Prince Emma Anyanwu, the Patron of Rivers State Council, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for members of the union.

    In her speech at the occasion, Semenitari, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Jokotade Adamu, said that journalism required regular updating of knowledge through training.

    She said that constant training would enable journalists to be well informed about the society and commended Anyanwu for instituting the award for journalists in the state.

    Seminitari urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the offer by ensuring that they did well in their various studies.

    ‘’I want to charge the recipients of this wonderful gesture. You are not just to collect the money and go and while away your time in whatever institution you are trying to get into.

    ‘’You are to go there and be very serious with whatever you are doing.

    “That is the way the financier will appreciate that you have spent his money well,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the commissioner as saying at the forum.

    In his remarks, Prince Anyanwu, said he instituted the N2 million scholarship award to assist journalists in the state update their knowledge in their profession.

    “I was inspired to take this mission because of the thankless and hazardous services rendered by members of the NUJ in Nigeria.

    “Many of you have gone through many pains in the process of your assignments, and nobody has come to say thank you.

    ‘’I am not here for you to thank me. I am here to reward your efforts, to encourage you, to share with you the pains you go through in the process of discharging your duties which is voluntary.

    ‘’ You earn nothing, your salaries are meagre. But you discharge your duties to the nation, to the state and to your family with joy,’’ he said.

     

  • Ondo: Rowdy session as journalists besiege INEC for accreditation

    Ondo: Rowdy session as journalists besiege INEC for accreditation

    It was a rowdy session as journalists from various local and international media organisations gathered at the Independent National Electoral Commission office in Akure, on Friday to get accredited for Saturday’s election.

    In what many considered a wrong decision, INEC left the accreditation till Friday when it could have taken place earlier in the week.

    Journalists were required to send in a prior application on a duly signed letter-headed paper.

    This, The Nation learnt, is to weed out fake journalists, said to have filled the town.

    Most applications from unknown news organisations were turned down by INEC officials.

    The accreditation, which commenced at about 12pm, was rowdy and largely unorganised.

    Some journalists engaged officials in a shouting match over conflicting methods of application.

    The room provided for the accreditation exercise was too small to contain the pen-pushers.

    Some journalists insisted their identity cards were enough to identify them, but officials said they must bring their company’s introduction letters and passport photographs.

    At the end, no photographs were attached to the tags for those who finally got theirs at the time of filing this report.

    Meanwhile, at INEC headquarters, a large detachment of armed policemen were seen huddled together in a meeting in the morning.

    Others stood by the gate, frisking and searching those coming in.

    Several men of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) were also at INEC’s office, clutching automatic machine guns.

    A police anti-bomb squad stood guard at the gate.

    At the main road leading to INEC office, armed soldiers mounted a blockade, turning vehicles back except those on election-related duty.

    They were only allowed in after a thorough search.

     

  • Campus journalists honour Tinubu

    Campus journalists honour Tinubu

    Participants at the Conference of Campus Journalists, which was held for a week at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), honoured the National Leader of Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his contribution to the promotion of freedom in Nigeria.

    The programme, hosted by the university’s chapter of the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ), was held at the Oduduwa Hall.

    A welcoming programme was held the first day for participants and the invited guests. They were taken round the campus on a tour of places such as the new museum.

    Mr Sunday Akere, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, gave the opening address.

    In her address, Mrs Tosin Dokpesi, of African Independent Television (AIT), who was represented by Don Pedro Obaseki, counseled the audience on the ethics of journalism.

    “Journalists are the very few ones who are being persecuted for what they do. Those of you present here, today, note that journalism is not an interesting profession where you will relax and fold your arms as things unfold,” he said.

    Seye Kehinde, the publisher of City People magazine, who spoke on social aspect of journalism and its effect on the society, described journalists as less-social individuals but key instruments of the society.

    The Special Guest of Honour, former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was represented by Mr Sam Omatseye, the Chairman of The Nation’s Editorial Board.

    In his address, Omatseye narrated how he started as a campus journalist in his undergraduate days at OAU.

    The ACJ Staff Adviser, Dr. Funsho Adesola, presented the Man of the Year Award to Tinubu. The plaque was received by Omatseye, who thanked the association for the honour bestowed on the ACN leader.

    Tunji Awe, president of the ACJ, Ekiti State University, told CAMPUSLIFE that the conference, though the first of its kind, was a success. He hoped the agenda of the congress would be achieved through consistency of the programme.

    Also at the event were campus journalists from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), University of Ibadan (UI) and Lagos State University (LASU).