Articles by Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
Government shuts down radio station, arrests general manager
(MRA/IFEX) – On 30 November 2005, a combined team of soldiers and policemen, apparently acting on the orders of the federal government, seized the Bayelsa State-owned radio station, Glory FM, located in Yenogoa, the state capital in the Niger Delta region. The station’s general manager, Brighten Sorgwe, was also arrested. Over 200 armed policemen and […]
African free expression organisations launch network
(MFWA/IFEX) – The following is a 31 October 2005 joint press release by MFWA, Media Rights Agenda, Journaliste en danger and the Media Institute of Southern Africa: A three-day Conference of African freedom of expression promoting organisations has been held in Accra, Ghana to promote the advancement of press freedom and freedom of expression on […]
Broadcasting authority allows private broadcasters to reopen
(MRA/IFEX) – On 24 October 2005, Nigeria’s broadcasting regulatory agency, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), authorized Daar Communications Limited, operators of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM, to reopen the stations, which were shut down the previous day over alleged unprofessional coverage of an airliner crash in which all 117 passengers and crew members […]
Private broadcaster shut down over plane crash coverage
(MRA/IFEX) – On 23 October 2005, Nigeria’s broadcasting regulatory agency, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), shut down the country’s leading privately-owned radio and television group over alleged unprofessional coverage of an airliner crash in which 117 passengers and crew members died. In a statement announcing the shutting down of Daar Communications Limited, owners of Africa […]
Presidential committee bars journalists from covering proceedings
(MRA/IFEX) – On 22 August 2005, a presidential committee investigating the jail-breaks that took place at the Port Harcourt Prison in Rivers State and the Ugwuashi-Ukwu Prison in Delta State barred journalists from covering its proceedings. Senator Stella Omu, the chair of the committee, which is sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, said journalists […]
Security agents release 2 detained printers, continue hunt for human rights activist
(MRA/IFEX) – On 4 August 2005, Nigeria’s intelligence agency, the State Security Service (SSS), released from custody two printers, Steve Omali and Michael Damisa.The printers had been arrested on 1 August at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja after being found in possession of advocacy campaign materials printed for the Coalition Against Impunity. They were […]
Security agents arrest 2 printers, hunt for human rights activist
(MRA/IFEX) – At about noon (local time) on 1 August 2005, operatives of Nigeria’s intelligence agency, the State Security Service (SSS), arrested two printers, Steve Omali and Michael Damisa, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja and subsequently detained them for being in possession of advocacy campaign materials which they printed for the Coalition Against […]
Airport security officers prevent newspaper editor from travelling
(MRA/IFEX) – On 25 July 2005, Ezuiche Ubani, “Thisday” newspaper’s editor-at-large, was prevented from travelling to Ghana by agents of the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria’s intelligence service. Ubani arrived at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 4.00 p.m. (local time) and proceeded to go through routine immigration clearance. When he submitted his passport […]