The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed legal action against President Bola Tinubu for “the unlawful ban and withdrawal of the accreditations of 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa.”
About 25 journalists who had been covering events in the Presidential Villa in Abuja have recently had their credentials withdrawn by the Federal Government.
The impacted journalists apparently got instructions to turn in their accreditation tags at the Presidential Villa’s main entrance.
In the lawsuit filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos under the case number FHC/L/CS/1766/23, SERAP is asking for “an order to direct and compel President Tinubu to reverse the revocation of the accreditations and ban on 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa.”
The lawsuit Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Kolawole Oluwadare, and Ms. Valentina Adegoke filed on behalf of SERAP stated, in part: “The ban on the journalists from covering the Presidential Villa fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.”
“The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and access to information — in its individual and collective aspects — in a democratic society.”
“A free, independent, vibrant, pluralistic, and diverse media must exist for a democratic society to function properly.”
“To forbid these reporters and media organisations from covering the Presidential Villa is to forbid them from fulfilling their legitimate constitutional duty.”
“The removal of these journalists’ accreditation tags immediately infringes on media freedom and other human rights, such as the right of access to information and the ability to participate. It could result in self-censorship and have a substantial chilling effect on news gathering and reporting activities.
“The withdrawal of the journalists’ credentials would put barriers in the way of Nigerians’ constitutionally guaranteed access to specific information about the workings of their government.”
The journalists from the Vanguard newspaper, Galaxy TV, Ben TV, MITV, ITV Abuja, PromptNews, ONTV, and Liberty are reportedly among those who have been blacklisted. The majority of the reporters and cameramen from broadcast, print, and internet media publications are among the additional media professionals impacted by the withdrawal.
“The press, radio, television, and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people,” according to section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution.
“The participation of the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution,” states Section 14(2)(c) of the Constitution.
The court hearing for the lawsuit has not yet been scheduled.
Join Television Nigerian Whatsapp Now
Join Television Nigerian Facebook Now
Join Television Nigerian Twitter Now
Join Television Nigerian YouTUbe Now
