Articles by Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
Political editor, deputy editor and marketing manager detained as harassment campaign against “Leadership” newspaper continues
(MRA/IFEX) – On 20 June 2008, Mallam Saidu Sarki Usman, the political editor of the private daily newspaper “Leadership”, based in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, was ordered to be remanded into prison custody. The order was issued by a Chief Magistrate Court presided over by Alhaji Salihu Attahiru in Minna, Niger State, North-central Nigeria. […]
Police raid newspaper seeking arrest of 15 editors, detain deputy editor for six hours, over critical article
(MRA/IFEX) – On 6 May 2008, about a dozen armed, plain-clothed policemen from the Niger State Command (in north-central Nigeria) raided the head office of “Leadership” newspaper in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital, and arrested the newspaper’s deputy editor, Danladi Ndayebo, over a feature article published by the paper. The newspaper’s editor, Prince Charles Dickson, told […]
Newspaper editor allegedly targeted for assassination following exposé of government budget scam
(MRA/IFEX) – On 22 April 2008, the Sunday editor of the Lagos-based private “Daily Sun” newspaper, Ms. Funke Egbemode, allegedly received threats to her life from some unidentified members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives for breaking a story of an alleged budget scam in the House and leading the “Sunday Sun” with it for two […]
Journalist brutally beaten by police while seeking entry to event
(MRA/IFEX) – On 31 March 2008, Mr. David Amusa, correspondent of the independent daily “National Mirror” in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in the Niger-delta area, was severely beaten by a detachment of about 20 policemen while on assignment to cover the announcement of a local council election conducted on 29 March. Amusa was among several […]
Newspaper editor reportedly harassed by police following publication of allegedly defamatory advertisement
(MRA/IFEX) – On 21 February 2008, the management of a Lagos-based national daily newspaper, “The Nation” alleged that its editor, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho was being harassed by policemen. The legal adviser of the newspaper, Folake Adeoye, said the policemen came from Ekiti State in South-west Nigeria. In a 21 February statement Adeoye said, “three policemen, […]
Magazine faces libel suit by political leader, its director assaulted after court appearance
(MRA/IFEX) – On 30 January 2008, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the managing director of “TheNews” magazine, was beaten by thugs believed to be working for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after he finished giving evidence in a libel suit against his magazine at a Lagos High Court. Chief Bode George, the South West Chairman of the […]
Two journalists arrested for photographing statue, later released
(MRA/IFEX) – On 10 January 2008 at about 4:30 p.m. (local time), two journalists, Fidelis Mbah of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Tade Oludayo of Silverbird Television and Rhythm FM radio, were arrested by government security agents in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital in south-west Nigeria, for taking photographs of a statue of the […]
Two IFEX members and others condemn presidential veto of freedom of information bill, attacks on journalists and media outlets
(IJC/MRA/IFEX) – The following is a joint statement by IJC, MTA and other organisations: STATEMENT BY THE MEDIA FOR DEMOCRACY (MFD) IN NIGERIA GROUP ON MAY 3RD 2007, BEING WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY RECALLING that the UN General Assembly in 1993 proclaimed World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of […]