The decision by Nigeria's Department of State Services to accredit a select number of media outlets to cover the trial of Nnamdi Kanu is seen as unconstitutional and a violation of freedom of expression.
This statement was originally published on ipcng.org on 26 July 2021.
The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos – Nigeria hereby condemns the decision of the Department of State Services to accredit ten media organisations to cover the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) today, Monday July 26th, 2021.
According to the Department of State Services (DSS), the newspapers accredited include Daily Post, Premium Times, Thisday, The Nation, The Herald, and Daily Independent while the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Channels Television, Africa Independent Television and Television Continental (TVC) were picked from the broadcast media sector.
IPC is of the firm opinion that the Department of State Service (DSS) has no constitutional right to accredit journalists to cover the trial of Nnamdi Kanu or any other suspect for that matter based on the provisions of the National Security Agencies Act.
IPC is amazed and concerned about this development which has no precedent anywhere in the world.
The trial of Nnamdi Kanu is a matter of public interest and accrediting some media outlets to cover it violates press freedom and the right of the public to know.
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