The following is a 20 January 2000 WAJA press release condemning the invasion of the International Press Centre by armed policemen and a 19 January 2000 press release by the International Press Centre: WAJA CONDEMNS ARMED INVASION ON THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTRE, LAGOS BY ARMED POLICEMEN The West African Journalists Association has learnt with shock […]
The following is a 20 January 2000 WAJA press release condemning the invasion of the International Press Centre by armed policemen and a 19 January 2000 press release by the International Press Centre:
WAJA CONDEMNS ARMED INVASION ON THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTRE, LAGOS BY ARMED POLICEMEN
The West African Journalists Association has learnt with shock and dismay of the reported invasion of the Lagos International Press Centre by armed policemen on January 19, 2000 that disrupted activities at the centre including a planned press conference.
We deplore the arrest of some journalists then at the press centre and the harassment of Mrs. Tinuke Aderemi, a staff of the press centre.
The invasion of the Lagos International Press centre, the arrest of journalists and harassment is so reminiscent of the evil days of General Sani Abacha and undermines the ongoing democratic process in Nigeria.
As one of the partners of the Lagos International Press centre which was established as a component of the Media For Democracy Project of the International Federation of Journalists to assist Nigerian journalists in their general work, we consider the invasion on the press centre an assault on press freedom in the new Nigeria.
The Lagos International Press Centre is one of many such centres that exist in West Africa. As centres for freedom of expression, these press centres offer platforms for all social or political groups.
We are aware that various groups have already utilised the Lagos Press Centre and find it unacceptable that the police will invade and harass staff as well as journalists during an openly-advertised press conference.
We call on the Nigerian authorities to refrain from activities that will hamper the work of the Lagos International Press Centre and the general freedom of expression of all Nigerians.
Signed by Kabral Blay-Amihere
President
West African Journalists Association
Accra, Ghana
January 20, 2000
The International Press Centre press release follows:
PRESS RELEASE
19th January, 2000
SPECIAL STATEMENT ON ARMED INVASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTRE, LAGOS BY 50-POLICEMEN ON WEDNESDAY JAN 19, 2000
BACKGROUND
Last week the International Press Centre, Lagos received a request from the Oodua Liberation Movement to use its conference hall for the purpose of a press conference at 10.00am on Wednesday January 19, 2000. The request was granted.
Before now some other organizations had paid for and obtained similar permission to use the same hall for press conference, seminar, exhibition etc. Among the organizations are: Journalists Fellowship for Christ (JFC), Focus, Full Gospel, Bureau of African Labour and Human Rights, (BALHADER), Campaign for Independent Unionism and Jesus Club.
The Conference hall is commercialized and is one of the facilities available at the centre. The others being the computer centre, library, boardroom and offices.
THE EVENT OF TODAY WEDNESDAY JANUARY 2000
Following the permission given the OLM, the executives arrived at the conference hall at the stipulated time and addressed a group of pressmen. The conference was over by 12.30 p.m.
At about 12:55p.m however, more than 50 policemen who were driven into the premises in about 20 vehicles stormed the International Press Centre and promptly arrested everybody they met in the hall. Led by one Commissioner Sobodu of RRS, they threatened to shoot at sight.
Those arrested were taken away in commando style. Among them were Messers – Wale Adeoye and Tunde Aremu (Punch), Nicholas Nwafor, The News/Tempo and Lekan Otufodunrin, Journalist for Christ.
The invading armed Mobile and regular policemen proceeded to question the staff of the IPC. The Secretary/Computer Operator, Mrs. Tinuke Aderemi, was harassed and ordered to operate the computer so that they could see the materials.
Her explanation that the press conference was limited to the conference hall felt on deaf ears as the policemen ordered her to lead them into all the offices which they ransacked by upturning documents and files. They equally demanded for all receipts relating to the hall.
Dramatically, one of the policemen removed the centre spread of todayâs Post-Express (Wednesday Jan 19, 2000) and took it away. The pages had stories on the Alliance for Democracy.
Mr. Sobodu asked Mrs. Aderemi if she could identify Mr. Ganiyu Adams and wanted to know if he came to the premises to address a press conference. She explained that Mr. Adams was a stranger to her while he or his group neither sought permission to use the hall nor came to the premises to speak with the press. This, of course, was the truth.
After the harassment, arrests and ransacking of offices, the armed invaders drove off but left behind four (4) armed policemen. As at the time of issuing this statement, the four policemen are still at the entrance to the premises.
OUR STAND ON THE INVASION
The International Press Centre considers the invasion of its conference room/offices and the arrest of journalists within its premises an assault on press freedom, reminiscent of the repressive era of General Sanni Abacha.
We wish to demand an unreserved apology for the unwarranted-armed intrusion and the immediate withdrawal of the four policemen stationed at our premises.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTRE
The International Press Centre is a component of the Media-For-Democracy Project of the International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, Brussels, Belgium, Article 19, London, West African Journalists Association (WAJA), and three Nigerian media NGOS – Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Independent Journalism Centre (IJC) and Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER).
It is also a non-governmental organization established to assist journalists in capacity building through a programme of computer/internet training and computerized library services. Its conference hall is commercialized.
Signed
Lanre Arogundade
Coordinator
