The body said on Friday that the situation signals the government’s lack of commitment to make the Law.
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The Executive Director of the MRA, Edetaen Ojo, made the demand in a statement he issued on Wednesday.
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) on Monday called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to put an end to the growing trend of public officials and other powerful individuals using the Police to silence and punish journalists who publish negative reports about them, saying the law enforcement agency has become a tool in the hands of such people to shield themselves from scrutiny.
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) on Monday called on Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State to immediately discontinue the harassment and intimidation of journalists in the state, saying the ongoing attacks on the media by his government in violation of the Constitution amount to a breach of the oath he took on becoming Governor just two months ago, particularly his pledge to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.”
Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha granted MRA leave to apply to the court to compel the NBC to make available to it the information it requested after hearing arguments from the organization’s lawyers in two separate ex parte motions in which it complained that the Commission had failed to respond to two separate applications for information – the first dated February 17, 2023 and signed by Maimuna Momoh, a Programme Officer at MRA; and a second letter dated February 20, 2023 and signed by Monday Arunsi, MRA’s Legal Officer.
MRA made the call at a press conference it organized to commemorate the 2022 edition of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and the 10-year anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which was endorsed by the UN Chief Executives Board, the highest-level coordination mechanism in the UN system.
In a press statement signed Ms Obioma Okonkwo, Head of its Legal Department, MRA said by the revocation, the NBC was prioritizing its desire to make money off the broadcasters over the interest of citizens as the ultimate effect of its action is to deprive millions of Nigerians access to information as well as their rights and ability to freely express themselves through these stations.
In a statement to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), MRA urged the Federal Government to make a commitment to protect journalists and other media workers from various forms of attacks, including online, saying such a move would signal its appreciation of the importance of the theme of this year’s WPFD, which is “Journalism Under Digital Siege”.
Richards is reported to have gone into hiding following an encounter with unknown men whom he suspects to be security agents whom he alleged attempted to abduct him.
Justice Tijjani Garba Ringim issued the order allowing MRA to apply to the court to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation to make the rules and regulations following a motion bought on behalf of MRA by its lawyer, Bankeye Akinwale, in which the organization claimed that although Section 11 of the Anti-Torture Act mandated the Attorney-General to make rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the Act, he has since 2017 failed to do so.
In a letter addressed to MRA’s Executive Director, Edetaen Ojo, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, said: “Your letter requesting the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish a specialized team of prosecutors to ensure effective investigation and prosecution of crimes against journalists and other media workers through the office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been received and is being processed.”
The online voting, coordinated by the IPC and MRA, begins on Monday (today) and closes midnight December 5, 2021.
Titled “A Promise Unkept: Report on the Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 under the Buhari Administration”, the report, published in collaboration with the Africa Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) with support from the Canada-based International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), castigated the government for choosing to allow public institutions to disregard the Act with impunity, without even reprimanding them.
The International Press Centre and Media Rights Agenda have announced an extension of the deadline for the submission of entries…
In a statement in Lagos, MRA’s Programme Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, said: “The situation with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments is truly a national scandal and represents everything that is wrong with Nigeria.
The awards and competition are part of activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the signing of the FoI Bill into Law by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.
The directive was ostensibly as a result of the pervading security situation in the state, but the MRA described the measure as unwarranted and unjustifiable interference with the rights to freedom of expression and access to information.
It is also asking the court to direct the government to pay the families of each of the journalists N10 million as reparation.
In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA’s Communication Officer, Idowu Adewale, said the new platform “offers a faster, easy to navigate, user-friendly experience as well as search engine optimization, which also enhances the visibility, and therefore, accessibility of the website to internet users in search of information online that is relevant to our work.”
They described the ban as an unjustifiable violation of the rights of all Nigerians to freedom of expression and access to information, and a contravention of the relevant instruments of both bodies.