(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has vehemently condemned the treatment of editor-in chief of the private weekly “Le Républicain”, Mamane Abou, and one of the paper’s journalists, Oumarou Keita, who were arrested and detained after being charged with “publishing false information” and “defamation”, of the Nigerian government, in the newspaper. “Arresting the journalists on a […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has vehemently condemned the treatment of editor-in chief of the private weekly “Le Républicain”, Mamane Abou, and one of the paper’s journalists, Oumarou Keita, who were arrested and detained after being charged with “publishing false information” and “defamation”, of the Nigerian government, in the newspaper.
“Arresting the journalists on a Friday to ensure that they spend at least a weekend in prison is an old trick that is shameful in a democracy. The Nigerian government has once again tried to punish “The Republican” because it was bothered by coverage in the newspaper,” declared the organization.
“As well, the injustice of laws that include prison sentences for press offenses is made clear in this case. When it comes to the press, the government makes use of the police, the prisons and the tribunals to settle its debts, while journalists that express their opinions cannot but submit to those in power. Mamane Abou and Oumarou Keita must be released immediately so as not to prolong this injustice that was a started through a tainted process,” added RSF.
Mamane Abou and Oumarou Keita were arrested on the afternoon of 4 August 2006 and detained and interrogated by a judicial police officer after the government of Niger filed a complaint over an article published in “Le Républicain” on 28 July 2006. The article, entitled “Hama leaves the West for Iran”, accused the Prime Minister Hama Amadou of “courting the Iranians,” and of “risking a rupture with Western chancelleries and the liquidation of White-owned businesses.” The public prosecutor was not available before 7 August so the two journalists had to wait for at least 72 hours at the Niamey central police station before their case could be referred to the courts. They were detained at the judicial police station in acceptable conditions and could receive visitors.
RSF interviewed Mamane Abou on 5 August about their arrest and detention, which he thought was meant to punish “Le Républicain” for publishing, in April 2006, an investigation into the embezzlement and misappropriation of funds by the administration. This investigation reportedly prompted an audit by donors to Niger.
