Some state governors have received knocks from Nigerians over their constant harassment of journalists. The criticism comes on the heels of the detention of an Ogun State publisher, Ahmed Olamilekan, for publishing a story on the state governor Dapo Abiodun.
“Journalists are now being hunted for trying to hold public officials to account for their actions. The situation has become worst under this dispensation, particularly with state governors using security men to intimidate media men for doing their job.
“From all indications, journalists are fast becoming an endangered species in Nigeria. This is not a good development for a young democracy,” Justus Imagbe said.
Olamilekan had in May this year republished a story detailing Governor Abiodun’s alleged criminal record in the United States of America, USA following which he was arrested by the secret police and detained against his wish. The blogger has now spent 100 days in detention
His unlawful detention has continued to raise dust among Nigerians, family, and friends who criticized the current government at both federal and state levels for being repressive against the media.
The Source magazine had reported the harassment and detention of Agba Jalingo publisher of CrossRiverWatch by Cross Rivers state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade.
Jalingo was arrested in his Alapere, Lagos home on Friday, detained, and later released by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF after the intervention of rights activist Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
Speaking on Olamilekan’s detention his lawyer, Festus Ogun said his client has been detained by the DSS since May 13, after honoring an invitation from the Ogun State command of the DSS.
Ogun said, “Ahmed was invited for questioning by the Ogun State command of the Department of State Services over a publication relating to the controversial criminal past of the state governor.
“Thereafter, he was forced against his will to pull down the story from his news blog.
“On Friday (May 13), last week, he was invited again and because my client had nothing to hide, he again honoured their invitation. Since then, he has been held incommunicado. He has not been granted access to his family or lawyer and he has been detained beyond the time contemplated by law.
“Currently, he is being arbitrarily tortured, intimidated and denied his fundamental rights to liberty guaranteed under Section 35 of the constitution.”
Meanwhile, those who spoke to the magazine said any public official who felt aggrieved as a result of any publication should go to court to seek redress instead of harassing journalists, for doing their job.
