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MRA Condemns
Raid, Sealing up of The Insider Weekly Magazine
LAGOS, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5,
2004: Media
Rights Agenda (MRA) today condemned the raid on the premises of The
Insider Weekly magazine by security agents from the State Security
Service (SSS) and the subsequent sealing up of the premises of the
magazine. The organization noted that the action undermines the
spirit of Nigeria's new democratic process on Saturday, September 4, 2004.
MRA’s Executive Director, Mr.
Edetaen Ojo, said the action of the SSS was illegal and unconstitutional,
adding that the attempt by the SSS to justify their action in a statement
entitled “The storming of the premises of The Insider Weekly”, was an
insult on the intelligence of Nigerians.
He said: “We are deeply
concerned by the increasing resort by President Olusegun Obasanjo’s
government to the repressive tactics favoured by military dictators only a
few years ago as it represents clear evidence that we are still very much
in the throes of dictatorship. We condemn the action of the SSS as
illegal and unconstitutional as no law in Nigeria empowers or authorizes
the SSS to invade or seal up the premises of any news organization.”
Mr. Ojo argued that if the SSS
feels that its purpose is to defend the reputation of President Obasanjo
or any other government official, then the basis of its existence is
faulty and Nigerians ought to ask themselves whether there was any
justification for its continued existence.
He said MRA had already issued a
worldwide alert on the action of the SSS through the global network of the
International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) to governments,
inter-governmental bodies, diplomatic missions, human rights groups,
journalists as well as other organizations and individuals around the
world, asking them to prevail on the Nigerian government to
respect the rights of journalists to practice their
profession freely.
He said: “The intimidation and harassment of journalists
violates the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39 of
the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as well as a number of international human
rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory, including Article 9 of
the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and Article 19 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
Edetaen Ojo
Executive Director
For further information, please contact:
Ayode Longe
Programme Officer
Media Rights Agenda
Tel: 01-4936033 & 4936034
Fax: 01-4930831
E-mail: pubs@mediarightsagenda.org |
