A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned until September 23, 2026, a suit filed by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) against the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigeria Police Force, seeking judicial intervention over what it describes as “persistent, escalating, and gender-specific attacks” against female journalists in the country.
The suit, filed by Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Ms. Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga, was commenced by way of Originating Summons under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules.
In the suit, MRA is urging the Court to declare that recurring incidents of harassment, intimidation, assault, unlawful detention, and other gender-based violations against female journalists constitute breaches of their fundamental rights as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.
Among the other reliefs sought by MRA are declarations that acts of harassment, intimidation, physical assault, arbitrary arrest, unlawful detention, online and offline threats, and other forms of gender-based violence against female journalists violate their rights to dignity, life, liberty, freedom of expression, and freedom from discrimination as guaranteed under Sections 33, 34, 35, 39, and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Articles 4, 5, 9, and 18(3) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The organisation is also contending that the failure of the Respondents to prevent, investigate, and prosecute such violations constitutes a breach of Nigeria’s domestic and international human rights obligations.
MRA is, therefore, seeking an order of mandamus to compel them to establish gender-sensitive protection mechanisms for female journalists, ensure the prompt investigation and prosecution of offenders, and implement institutional reforms, including mandatory training for law enforcement officers on journalists’ rights, safety, and professional protections.
It also wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining security agencies and other state actors from further harassment, arrest, detention, or interference with the professional duties of female journalists.
In a verifying affidavit accompanying the suit, Ms. Godsgift Onyedinefu, a journalist based in Abuja, detailed numerous incidents of alleged targeted violence against female journalists across different states of the federation, including arrests, assaults, intimidation, sexual harassment, unlawful detention, and threats arising from their journalistic activities.
The matter is pending before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Court proceedings in the matter have, however, experienced multiple adjournments. At an earlier sitting scheduled for March 19, 2026, the proceedings could not hold due to a public holiday declared by the Federal Government, and the matter was subsequently adjourned to May 18, 2026, for mention.
When the matter came up on May 18, 2026, the Court did not sit, with no specific reason disclosed. Parties were informed that the judge was engaged in other judicial assignments, and the matter was adjourned to June 4, 2026, for mention.
On June 4, 2026, Court officials reportedly informed counsel that the judge was unavailable due to other official engagements and that the court would be occupied with pre-election matters for the next few months. Parties were accordingly advised to take dates later in the year.
The matter was consequently put off to September 23, 2026, for mention, with hearing notices to be served on the parties.
