From Maiharaji Altine
The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum has petitioned the National Judicial Council of Nigeria (NJC) and the Attorney General of the Federation over the alleged harassment, intimidation, and subversion of the constitutional role of journalists by the Minister of State Defence, Bello Mattawalle at the High Court sitting in Bichi, Kano State.
In a statement issued to newsmen on Friday, the chairman of the forum, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Yelwa (Ajiyan Yari) said, they would not fold their arms to see the constitutional roles of journalism profession being subverted, while the journalists were being intimidated and harassed by the Honourable Minister.
Ajiyan Yauri was specifically referring to the two Northern prominent journalists journalists, Malam Shuaibu Mungadi of Vision FM Media services and Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan of Freedom Radio and Television who were currently standing trial at the High Court in Bauchi simply because they have practiced their professional responsibilities.
Yelwa stressed that, the case brought to the High Court in Bauchi by the Minister of State, Defence, Bello against the two prominent broadcast journalists was a clear contravention of Section 22 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN 1999), which empowered journalists to hold public officers accountable, while Section 39 also guaranteed freedom of speech.
He maintained that the forum was deeply pained by the Minister’s actions, lamenting that, “The action of the Minister is aimed at gagging the press and preventing them from performing their professional duties.
He wondered why the Minister has maliciously singled out these two highly respected journalists for persecution on a matter that has been in the domain of public commentary and analysis many years ago.
“This clandestine move is a blatant attempt to undermine press freedom and block any efforts to hold him accountable for alleged corruption during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara”. Said Yelwa.
The forum therefore urged the National Judicial Council and the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate the manner and basis of the court order restraining the journalists from performing their civil responsibilities.
The forum also called for the immediate reviewal of the case against the journalists so as to salvage the judiciary from the allegation of impropriety.
The forum finally called on the Attorney General of the Federation to review the case urgently and the Minister of Information and National Orientation to intervene and safeguard the press from intimidation and harassment.
The statement reads in parts as follows:
“The Forum writes to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the harassment, intimidation, and subversion of the constitutional role of journalists by the High Court, Bichi, Kano State”.
”We, the Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners’ Forum, write to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the harassment, intimidation, and subversion of the constitutional role of journalists by the High Court, Bichi, Kano State”.
”The Minister of State, Defence, Bello Mutawalle, has secured a judgment against two prominent broadcast journalists, Shuaibu Mungadi of Vision Media Services and Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan of Freedom Radio Television, in clear contravention of Section 22 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN 1999), which empowers journalists to hold public officers accountable, and Section 39, which guarantees freedom of speech”.
“We are deeply pained by the Minister’s actions, which aim to gag the press and prevent journalists from performing their professional duties”.
“We find it curious that the Minister has maliciously singled out these two highly respected journalists for persecution on a matter that has been in the domain of public commentary and analysis for years”.
“This clandestine move is a blatant attempt to undermine press freedom and block any efforts to hold him accountable for alleged corruption during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara’.
”We urge the NJC and the Attorney General of the Federation to:
1– Investigate the manner and basis of the court order restraining the journalists
2— Review the case against the journalists and salvage the judiciary from the allegation of impropriety.
3– Ensure that judges issue fair and impartial judgments, respecting the sanctity of our laws”
”We also call on the Attorney General of the Federation to review the case urgently and the Minister of Information and National Orientation to intervene and safeguard the press from intimidation and harassment”.
“As broadcast media practitioners and media owners, we will continue to practice our profession within the laws of the land and global best practices”.
“We demand immediate action to protect press freedom and ensure that journalists can perform their duties without fear of harassment or intimidation”.
