AFTERMATH OF JOURNALISTS’ RELEASE: SSS quizzes Wahab Oba – Tribune

• Over alleged N3m snatched by kidnappers

• They collected only N1.6m -Lagos NUJ boss

Chairman of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Wahab Oba, was on Monday quizzed by the officials of the State Security Service (SSS) over the N3 million that was allegedly collected from him, three other journalists and their driver before they were released by their kidnappers on Sunday.

However, Oba dismissed the report, saying their captors only collected about N1.6 million.

Speaking at his residence, Oba, before he was taken to the headquarters of the SSS at Shangisha, Lagos, on Monday evening, expressed surprise at media reports on Monday to the effect that the kidnappers collected N3 million from them.

“I was surprised when I saw the report today (Monday) that the sum of N3 million was seized from us by the kidnappers.

“I must have been misunderstood. What I meant was that the total value of what the kidnappers seized from us would amount to about N2.5 million or N3 million in total value.

“At least about N1.6 million in cash was seized from us instantly while other property such as vehicle, a Serena Space bus, laptop, camera, recorder, personnel effects, wrist watches, among other valuables should be worth about N2 million.

Journalists not spared as lawmakers go wild – The Nation

Some reporters covering the House of Representatives were not spared of attack in the free for all that engulfed the Green Chamber on Tuesday. They were beaten up.

Wole Oladimeji of the Nigerian Compass, Rotimi Akinwumi of the Daily Independent and Gbenga Olamikan, a photo-journalist with the Vanguard incurred the wrath of security agents as they made to record the fracas.

The pupils of Royal Secondary School, Nyanya, who were on excursion watched with mouth agape from the gallery as the ‘honourable members’ exchanged blows. They were eventually vacated from the gallery when the battle became too fierce.

Olamikan was the first to be attacked as he attempted to take photographs of the scene from the gallery.

Oladimeji, who attempted to rescue him from the grips of the security agents, was not spared. He was also beaten.

Akinwumi’s ordeal was more dramatic. In his attempt to escape, the security agents pursued him up and down the staircase for over five minutes.

The helpless reporter lost his Nokia handset in the process.

When journalists thought that the attack was over, armed and stern-looking policemen swooped on the trio and dragged them to their office in the National Assembly.

Attack On Journalist: CNPP Petitions NJC, Demands Magistrate’s Sack – Daily Independent

Opposition party grouping, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) on Thursday petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) expressing its outrage at the assault on ‘The Guardian’ newspaper Judicial Correspondent, Lemmy Ughegbe, by an Abuja Chief Magistrate, Zainab Bashir.

It called for Bashir’s dismissal from the magistracy bench.

In the petition signed by its Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, and addressed to Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) who is also Chairman of the NJC, Aloysius Kastina-Alu, the CNPP stated that it is condemnable that the magistrate “descended into the arena, breached the court process, breached the 1999 Constitution, breached the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and breached the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights”.

Assault on journalist: JSC redeploys magistrate – The Punch

Following the public outcry against her assault on a journalist covering the alleged N7.5bn fraud against some bankers, an Abuja Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Zainab Bashir has been redeployed by the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory.

Although the details of her transfer were still sketchy as at press time, our correspondent gathered that a letter transferring the magistrate was despatched to her in the evening of Tuesday.

Bashir was said to have been transferred to Kuje Magistrate court.

The letter redeploying her was said to have been signed by the Chief Registrar and Secretary of the FCT JSC.

It was not immediately known if Bashir has reported at her new office in Kuje.

Police pledge to apprehend Ugbagwu’s killers – The Nation

The Police have assured journalists and other media practitioners of their safety in the face of increasing threats to their lives by some yet-to-be identified criminals.

They also pledged to unravel and apprehend the killers of Mr. Edo Ugbagwu of The Nation Newspapers.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), told reporters in Minna, the Niger State capital, on Saturday that no stone would be left unturned to unravel the mystery behind the killing of The Nation’s Judicial Correspondent in his residence in Shasha, on the outskirts of Lagos.

Ojukwu said: “Let me once again assure the media world that the Police will surely catch up with those who perpetrated the killing of Edo in Lagos. We have been able to apprehend those who were behind that of Bayo Ohu (of The Guardian Newspapers) and Efenji Efenji (of Africa Independent Television, AIT).

“They are now being prosecuted. I can assure you that we will get those behind that of Edo,” he said.

Court dismisses Bode George’s N2bn libel suit – The Punch

A Lagos High Court in Badagry on Wednesday dismissed the libel suit filed by a convicted former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Olabode George, against TheNEWS magazine, PM NEWS and the Daily Independent newspapers.

George had claimed an aggregate of N2bn damages in the libel suit against the newspapers while the lawyer to the defendants, Mr. Femi Falana, had contested the application.

In his judgment, Justice Akeem Oshodi held that a man could not claim damages for a reputation that he did not possess.

Having reviewed the facts of the case, the judge held that all the witnesses called by George did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that he was libelled by the media reports, which were tendered in court.

The judge further held that since George had earlier been convicted by a Lagos High Court judge on the same facts which he claimed he had been libelled with, it would be inappropriate to grant him damages on those facts.

Ugbagwu: ‘Why attacks on journalists may persist’ – The Punch

With the 2011 general elections fast approaching, the Niger State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Baba Barau, has expressed fears that attacks on journalists may persist given the ‘do-or- die’ politics adopted by politicians.

The commissioner has therefore advised journalists to expect more attacks from desperate politicians.

Reacting to the killing of the Judiciary Correspondent of The Nation Newspapers last Saturday, Mr. Edo Ugbagwu, the commissioner warned journalists to be cautious of desperate politicians.

Media group ranks Nigeria, others most dangerous for journalists – The Guardian

Ahead of the World Press Freedom Day next week, an international media safety group has listed Nigeria alongside four other countries as the deadliest locations for journalists and called on the nations to bring perpetrators to justice.

The London-based International News Safety Institute in its report yesterday said the victims included those reporting unrest in Thailand and Nigeria, noting that 17 media workers had died violently in April, this year, making it the bloodiest month for journalists recorded in the past five years.

It pointed out that Honduras has been deadliest country for journalists this year, with Mexico, Pakistan, Colombia and Nigeria the next most dangerous nations.

According to the group, 42 media professionals in 22 countries had died so far this year. Most were murdered, and at least 27 of those deaths were confirmed to be connected with the victims’ work.

Nigerian journalists, endangered species – NLC – Vangaurd

Labour Congress, NLC, has said Nigerian journalists have become endangered species with the latest dastard killing of Mr. Edo Sule Ugbagwu, Judicial Correspondent of The Nation newspapers, and called on Nigerian Police and other security operatives in the country to fish out the killers.

This came even as members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, planned to converge on Lagos on Monday, for a rally to sensitise law enforcement agencies, National Assembly and government at all levels on the need to put a stop to the incessant killing of media professionals in the country

The NLC in a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Comrade Emma Ugboaja, said journalists had suddenly become targets of murder in recent time, particularly in Lagos State and that these cases of premeditated assassinations had added to the hazards media workers go through in the course of duty.

NUJ to conduct independent probe – The Nation

The Lagos S tate chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) will set up a independent panel to probe the murder of The Nation reporter, Mr Edo Sule Ugbagwu, it emerged yesterday.

Chairman of the union, Mr Wahab Alabi Oba disclosed yesterday when he visited Ugbagwu’s widow, Mariam that the panel’s report will be submitted to the police.

Ugbagwu was killed on Saturday evening in his Shasha, Lagos home by unknown gunmen.

Oba urged media owners to provide comprehensive insurance for journalists in their employment.

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