The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Civil Society Partners have referred the recent detention, brutalisation and torture of the Editor, FirstNews newspapers, Mr. Segun Olatunji, to the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) – the National Media Ombudsman.
This followed the meeting of the NPO, BON and CSOs with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in which military authorities said they acted to forestall a potential threat to national security and would have reported the matter to the National Media Ombudsman if they had been aware of its existence.
The media bodies and civil society partners disclosed this in a statement signed by the president, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria/Nigerian Press Organisations, Kabiru Yusuf; Executive secretary, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Dr Yemisi Bamgbose; president, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba amongst others.
They said the report of the Ombudsman process would be made public, expressing hope that the parties concerned will seize this opportunity to settle the matter in the interest of law, order and respect for the provisions of Nigeria’s constitution.
The organisations also condemned the increasing militarisation of the civic space, which has seen increasing use of excessive force by soldiers in matters that would have ordinarily be handled by the police.
“In response to concerns expressed by the NPO, BON and Civil Society Partners, on the abduction of Olatunji and a demand on the government for accountability, the DIA requested a meeting with the media organisations on April 14.2024.
“The military authorities said they acted to forestall a potential threat to national security and would have reported the matter to the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) – The National Media Ombudsman – if they had been aware of its existence.
“After considering this disposition towards the Ombudsman, the NPO, BON and the Civil Society Partners have decided after reviewing the outcome of the April 14 meeting, to refer the matter to the Ombudsman for adjudication,” the statement reads.
