Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has issued a strong rebuttal to Blueprint newspaper’s editorial titled “Akume’s riot act on official secrets,” which defended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. George Akume’s threat to jail government officials for unauthorized disclosure of information.
Ms. Obioma Okonkwo, Head of the Legal Department at MRA, criticized Blueprint’s stance, highlighting the newspaper’s ties to Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris. She suggested this affiliation may have influenced the publication’s defense of the government’s position, possibly compromising journalistic integrity.
Blueprint’s editorial claimed the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act is consistent with the Official Secrets Act, a point MRA vehemently disputes. Citing Section 27(2) of the FOI Act, Ms Okonkwo stated: “The FOI Act does not repeal the Official Secrets Act, but it provides protections for whistleblowers in the public interest.”
MRA accused Blueprint of deliberately misinforming its readers, asserting that “The FOI Act and the Official Secrets Act are not complementary,” but fundamentally at odds. Ms Okonkwo emphasized the FOI Act’s role in promoting transparency and accountability, contrasting it with the Official Secrets Act’s emphasis on secrecy.
Further, MRA challenged Blueprint’s claim that unauthorized disclosures threaten national security and facilitate criminal activities. Ms Okonkwo pointed out the editorial’s failure to provide evidence supporting these accusations and criticized the government’s focus on prosecuting whistleblowers instead of addressing the root causes of insecurity.
Blueprint’s editorial also conflated unauthorized disclosure with spreading false information, a misunderstanding MRA found troubling. Ms Okonkwo highlighted the essential role of transparency in governance, arguing that exposing corruption and mismanagement ultimately benefits the public by improving government efficiency.
MRA’s rebuttal underscores the FOI Act’s intent to enhance citizen participation and responsive governance. Okonkwo accused the government of using whistleblower prosecution as a tactic to prevent revelations of corruption and abuse of power.
MRA concluded by urging government officials to focus on integrity and accountability, suggesting that efforts to suppress whistleblowers are attempts to avoid public scrutiny of their actions. The organization also expressed disappointment in Blueprint’s editorial stance, viewing it as a betrayal of journalistic principles for political gain.
