Members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives on July 11, 2024, unanimously adopted a motion on the need to curtail the incessant and unlawful arrest and detention of journalists by law enforcement agencies and mandated the committees on national security to ensure compliance.
The Green Chamber denounced the incessant arrest and detention by law enforcement agencies of journalists while carrying out their constitutionally assigned role and resolved to pass laws to strengthen press freedom protections, conduct inquiries into recent cases of journalist detention, and engage in diplomatic efforts to pressure the government to respect press freedom.
Hon. Clement Jimbo, member representing Abak/Etomi Ekpon/Ika Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, who sponsored the motion under a motion of urgent public importance titled “Need to curtail the incessant and unlawful arrest and detention of journalists by law enforcement agencies,” lamented the spate of unlawful arrest of journalists in Nigeria, saying the development must be addressed to protect the Fourth Estate of the Realm. He noted that the freedom of the press is a fundamental right enshrined in Section 39 subsection (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which guarantees journalists the ability to report news without fear of arrest or persecution.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House called on the Nigerian Police Force and other law enforcement agencies “To cautiously and democratically rely on Section 24 of Cybercrime Act 2015 as amended and/or charge anyone including journalists to court if they have violated any law of the land instead of depriving them of their constitutional right.”
Hon. Jimbo, leading the debate said, “There has been a troubling increase in the number of journalists being unlawfully arrested, detained, and harassed for carrying out their professional duties, relying on the offence of Cyber-stalking within the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.
“In recent times, between 2015 and 2024, there has been incessant unwarranted arrest, unlawful detention and several other forms of harassment and intimidation meted out at least 25 journalists in the course of their duty, which is threatening the very fundamental pillar of democracy, and culminating into a breach of their constitutionally guaranteed rights to free speech.”
He stated that despite the Federal Government’s move to promote freedom of speech, journalists continue to suffer untold harassment at the hands of law enforcement agencies.
Hon. Jimbo pointed out that although President Bola Tinubu has signed the Cybercrime Amended Act with a substantial adjustment on Section 24, which listed what constitutes cyber-stalking and provided the punishment for such, law enforcement agents have neglected this aspect and continue their clampdown on free speech.
He noted that: “Regrettably, at least 10 journalists have been arrested in the past year and 15 of them in the last regime.”
The lawmaker warned that the arrest of journalists may lead to a worsening climate for investigative and independent journalism in the country’s media space.
