…Urge President Tinubu to uphold accountability amid journalist’s release

… Minister affirms FG’s commitment to press freedom, responsibility

In a united front against military misconduct, the International Press Institute (IPI), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) convened a joint press conference on Thursday to address the harrowing ordeal of Editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, who was freed 13  days after staying in military custody.

Olatunji’s abduction from his Lagos home on March 15, initially perceived as the work of non-state actors, has ignited a firestorm of concern within Nigeria’s media community.

The IPI, NUJ, and NGE called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure those behind the arrest were “punished,” claiming military authorities lied to them about Olatunji’s whereabouts.

“Although our colleague has now been released, we are calling on President Tinubu to ensure that these officers are punished for their bad behaviour,” they said.

While giving details about what led to the arrest, the unions said it was to a story captioned, “Revealed: Defence Chief running office like family business – Public Interest Lawyers.”

Despite these concerted efforts, the military repeatedly denied any involvement in Olatunji’s disappearance, casting doubt on their commitment to transparency and accountability.

The joint statement, signed by Musikilu Mojeed, President of IPI Nigeria, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Secretary of NGE, and Chris Isiguzo, President of NUJ, underscored the imperative to safeguard press freedom and democracy in the face of egregious violations.

Emphasising the need for decisive action, the media leaders pledged further consultations within the Nigerian media community to address the culpability of military officials implicated in Olatunji’s abduction.

While Olatunji has been reunited with his family following his release, the ramifications of this incident reverberate throughout Nigeria’s media landscape.

Questions linger regarding the accountability of military authorities responsible for flouting constitutional rights and undermining the fundamental tenets of democracy.

Recall that in a statement issued by the management of FirstNews, Mr Olatunji’s abduction was linked to a recent story published by the media organization titled, “Revealed: Defence Chief running office like family business – Public Interest Lawyers.”

Mr. Olatunji’s wife recounted the harrowing incident of her husband’s abduction, describing how armed men barged into their home just after 6 pm, seizing his phone and forcing him into a van despite her inquiries about his alleged offense and destination.

His disappearance plunged his family, colleagues, and FirstNews publisher Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson into a frantic search, only to be stonewalled by his captors, leaving them in anguish and uncertainty.

After days of fruitless searching, the International Press Institute (IPI) uncovered Mr. Olatunji’s whereabouts, revealing he was being held and tortured by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja. Despite denials from DIA officials, pressure mounted, leading to a confession and a promise of his release after intervention from government officials, including the Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.

While acknowledging the government’s role in resolving the crisis, the IPI condemned the DIA’s actions as a flagrant violation of democratic norms and press freedom.

They raised concerns about the agency’s intentions, suspecting an attempt to silence Mr. Olatunji permanently. Urging accountability, they called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure those responsible face consequences, citing constitutional and international laws protecting citizens from arbitrary detention.

Highlighting the crucial role of a free press in a democracy, the IPI stressed the need to safeguard press freedom as a bulwark against abuse of power and corruption. They vowed to pursue further actions against the military leadership involved in the incident, underscoring the ongoing threat to Nigeria’s democratic values and the media’s watchdog role.

…Minister affirms FG’s commitment to press freedom, responsibility

In the same vein, The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reiterated the government’s steadfast dedication to upholding press freedom while emphasising the importance of responsible journalism.

His comments came during a meeting with senior executives of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) in Abuja on Thursday.

During the meeting, Minister Idris stressed the need for media professionals to exercise their freedom responsibly, highlighting the crucial role of the media in fostering transparency and accountability.

He emphasised that while press freedom is essential, it should be accompanied by a sense of responsibility to report accurately and honestly.

Addressing the delegation, Minister Idris stated, “While we drive press freedom, we should also carry along with it the responsibility for the media to discharge its duty creditably, honestly, and transparently. You cannot report what is wrong and say you are doing press freedom. That is unacceptable.

“That is what I think the media industry will also help us to achieve. While we drive press freedom, we should also carry along with it the responsibility for the media to discharge its duty creditably, honestly, and transparently. You cannot report what is wrong and say you are doing press freedom. That is unacceptable,” he said.

The Minister said press freedom is the cornerstone of a thriving democracy and the government fully recognises the importance of a vibrant media landscape in fostering democracy.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a product of press freedom and he cannot in any way stifle press freedom,” he said.

Idris said it is wrong to intentionally disseminate misinformation and inflammatory reports aimed at sowing discord and promoting anarchy within the society under the guise of press freedom.

“You cannot report issues with the intention to create disharmony and discontent that will ultimately lead to the breakdown of law and order for our citizens and say you are exercising press freedom,” he said.

Idris warned that the biggest victims of disinformation are media professionals, who are at risk of losing public trust, confidence, and credibility.

In response to a request from the Executive Director of the Centre, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, regarding the revision of constitutional sections perceived as limiting press freedom, Minister Idris affirmed his commitment to collaborate with the National Assembly towards achieving tangible outcomes.

He also assured of efforts to enhance compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, cautioning against its misuse.

Earlier in the discussion, Dr. Akingbulu praised the Minister for transforming the Ministry’s narrative since assuming office, noting a perceptible shift towards positive developments within the Information Sector in Nigeria.