In a joint assertion, the {groups} urged the federal authorities to make sure the security and safety of Okinbaloye and different journalists dealing with threats for finishing up their duties, warning that press freedom in Nigeria is in a “downward spiral” marked by intimidation, harassment and assaults.
The condemnation follows remarks by Wike throughout a media chat final Friday, the place he expressed anger over feedback made by Okinbaloye on Politics Right this moment, saying he was “stunned” and would have “shot him” if it had been potential to interrupt via the tv display. The presenter had raised issues concerning the 2027 elections changing into dominated by a single political occasion, referencing inner points throughout the African Democratic Congress.
Reacting, NGE and SERAP stated public officers are topic to scrutiny and criticism, stressing that Okinbaloye, like each citizen, has the appropriate to freedom of expression, together with the appropriate to hunt, obtain and impart data on issues of public curiosity.
The organisations famous that though Wike later clarified his assertion, such threats ought to by no means have been made, warning that they contribute to a local weather of worry geared toward discouraging public curiosity journalism and undermining democratic accountability.
They additional criticised what they described because the persistent failure of Nigerian authorities to research and prosecute assaults towards journalists, saying the pattern has emboldened perpetrators and fostered a tradition of impunity.
The assertion collectively signed by NGE President Eze Anaba and the Normal Secretary Onuoha Ukeh and SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare learn partly: “The best to freedom of expression applies to all types of knowledge and concepts, together with people who could shock, offend or disturb.
“Any type of effort to coerce the holding or not holding of any opinion is prohibited.
“Though Mr Wike has sought to make clear his remarks, the threat ought to by no means have been made within the first place. The target of those that threaten journalists stays the identical: to relax public curiosity reporting by rising the dangers confronted by journalists. Such conduct undermines press freedom and democratic accountability. This should cease.
“The persevering with failure by the Nigerian authorities to uphold press freedom and to successfully examine and prosecute the rising instances of threats and assaults towards journalists has emboldened those that want to silence them.
“The failure additionally displays wider impunity for human rights violations and disrespect for the rule of regulation in Nigeria.
“Impunity for many who threaten, intimidate and harass journalists and media organisations contributes to the hostile setting for these human rights defenders. Nigerian authorities should finish impunity for crimes towards journalists.
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“We notice that the restrictions on civic house, human rights violations and suppression of the press in current occasions take varied varieties starting from extrajudicial to illegal detentions, enforced disappearances, malicious prosecutions and wrongful use of each laws and regulation enforcement.”
Citing information from Reporters With out Borders, the {groups} stated Nigeria dropped 10 locations to 122nd place within the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, including that not less than 56 journalists had been assaulted or arrested whereas masking demonstrations in August 2024 alone.
It continued, “The Nigerian Structure 1999 [as amended] and human rights treaties, together with the Worldwide Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Constitution on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state occasion, assure the appropriate to freedom of expression and press freedom.”
“Part 39 of the Nigerian Structure offers that each particular person shall have the appropriate to freedom of expression, together with the liberty to carry opinions and to obtain and impart concepts and data with out interference. It additional affirms the appropriate to personal, set up, and function media shops for the dissemination of knowledge.”
“Part 22 locations an obligation on the press, radio, tv, and different media to uphold accountability by holding the federal government accountable to the folks.”
“The Nigerian Structure and worldwide human rights regulation defend criticism of public officers and political reporting, together with political discourse, commentary on public affairs, and dialogue of human rights.”
“The media performs a vital function in exposing abuses of energy and human rights violations, thus serving to to make sure that the general public is knowledgeable, that abuses are halted, that legal perpetrators face justice, and that victims can search redress.”
“The free communication of knowledge and concepts about public and political points is crucial. This means a free press and different media capable of touch upon public points with out censorship or restraint and to tell public opinion.”
“The best to data is a goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Improvement, and the security of journalists is successful indicator.”
“The United Nations Plan of Motion defines the security of journalists as encompassing not solely bodily assaults but additionally prosecution, arrest, imprisonment and denial of journalistic entry, in addition to impunity for crimes towards journalists.”
They known as on President Tinubu to direct Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Lawyer Normal of the Federation and Minister of Justice, safety companies to research the alleged threat and different assaults on journalists since Might 29, 2023, guarantee accountability for perpetrators, reaffirm authorities help for media freedom, and supply efficient cures for affected journalists.