Olatunji’s abduction: Media bodies, Civil societies refer matter to ombudsman, allege increasing militarisation of civic space
Media bodies and Civil Society organisations have referred the matter of the abduction of the General Editor of FirstNews newspapers, Mr. Segun Olatunji to the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC).
This was disclosed in a joint statement issued by the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Press Organisations (NPO), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), International Press Institute, Nigeria Chapter (IPI Nigeria), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), International Press Centre (IPC) and the Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP) on Sunday.
The organisations noted that in response to its concerns expressed by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Civil Society Partners, on the abduction of the General Editor of FirstNews newspapers, Mr. Segun Olatunji, and a demand on the government for accountability, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), requested a meeting with the NPO, BON and the Civil Society Partners on April 14.2024.
“The military authorities said they acted to forestall a potential threat to national security and would have reported the matter to the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) – The National Media Ombudsman – if they had been aware of its existence.
“After considering this disposition towards the Ombudsman, the NPO, BON and the Civil Society Partners have decided after reviewing the outcome of the April 14 meeting, to refer the matter to the Ombudsman for adjudication,” the statement read in part.
It also stated that the report of the Ombudsman process would be made public while urging the military to settle the matter in the interest of law, order and respect for the provisions of Nigeria’s constitution.
The group also condemned an alleged increased militarisation of the civic space noting that it has seen increasing use of excessive force by soldiers in matters that would ordinarily be handled by the police.
Recall that the group had earlier condemned the abduction of the FirstNews Editor.
The aggrieved bodies and associations demanded a speedy, public, transparent and independent investigation into this act of barbarism displayed by military personnel as well as the brazen disregard for the Constitution and the Government’s obligations under relevant domestic laws and international instruments.
They stated that all persons within and outside the military who are found to have been connected with this unacceptable violation of the rights of the journalist and the Constitution, including those who effected Mr. Olatunji’s arrest, detention and torture, those who directly commanded them, and those who ordered or instigated the action, should be prosecuted before the appropriate court and punished to the full extent of the Law.
