Leading media outlets and civil society organizations in Nigeria have issued a stern ultimatum to the government, demanding a thorough investigation into the abduction, brutalization, and torture of Segun Olatunji, Editor of FirstNews newspapers, allegedly by military personnel.
In a joint statement released early Monday, the coalition called for swift action, giving the government a 14-day deadline to probe the incident, prosecute the perpetrators, and provide compensation and a public apology to Olatunji.
The statement outlined the harrowing experiences endured by Olatunji during his 14-day detention, including being stripped down to his boxers, restrained with leg manacles and handcuffs, and held incommunicado without knowledge of his offense or legal rights—a violation of constitutional guarantees.
Olatunji, who was abducted from his home in Lagos on 15 March, was only released on 28 March.
“In accordance with Section 35(6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Federal Government should pay Mr. Olatunji substantial compensation and issue a public apology to him for the unlawful and unconstitutional violation of his rights as well as the inhuman and degrading treatment to which he was subjected; and
“The federal government should make an unequivocal public commitment to respect and defend the rights and freedoms of journalists and other media practitioners to carry out their professional duties in a safe and conducive environment in accordance with Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and advise all law enforcement, security, intelligence, military and other agencies accordingly,” their demands read in part.
The groups gave the federal government 14 days from Monday to address their demands.
“Should the federal government fail to respond positively to all these demands within 14 days from today, the undersigned media associations and professional bodies as well as civil society organisations will pursue all available mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels to ensure compliance with our demands,” the statement added.
Those who signed the statement include,
President, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) / President, Nigerian Press Organisations (NPO), Kabiru Yusuf, and Executive Secretary, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Yemisi Bamgbose.
They also include the President, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba; the National President, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo; the President, the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Maureen Chigbo, and President, the International Press Institute, Nigeria Chapter (IPI Nigeria), Musikilu Mojeed.
The rest are Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Edetaen Ojo; Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, and Director, Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP), Adetokunbo Mumuni.