OPPRESSION: Jonathan Punish Leadership Newspaper?

The police in Abuja have descended heavily on LEADERSHIP newspaper over a story in which it alleged to a “presidential directive” aimed at muzzling opposition to Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, running the newspaper ragged in the manner of a military regime.

“Between [last] Wednesday when the newspaper first published the story and yesterday, police officers have visited the newspaper’s head office in Abuja three times, demanding to see the journalists who wrote the story,” the newspaper said in a story this morning.  “The psychological siege climaxed yesterday with a summons to the newspaper to appear at Force Headquarters in Abuja this morning.”

In the story, Leadership said the directive, referenced as Presidential Directive 95 and dated March 26, showed that the presidency had given the marching orders for “everything to be done to frustrate the merged opposition parties.”

“According to Presidential Villa insiders, a presidential directive is similar to an executive order,” the story said. “It is instigated, prepared and executed with the full knowledge and approval of the president.”

A source told the newspaper that the directive bore “the full imprint of President Goodluck Jonathan,” adding, “It’s now gloves off in the battle for 2015.”

In its story today, the newspaper cited a letter dated yesterday,April 7, signed by Deputy Police Commissioner Danlami Mohammed, in which the police summoned its group news editor Tony Amokeodo, and two correspondents,  Chibuzor Ukaibe and Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, to report to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police ‘D’ Department this morning over the story.

“The letter was addressed to the chairman, LEADERSHIP Group Limited.  The letter reads in part: “This office is investigating the circumstances leading to your Front Page publication entitled, “Outrage Trails Presidential Directive On Tinubu, APC” and a sub-title captioned ‘Bromide of the Presidential Directive.’ Based on our fact finding efforts, you are hereby requested to release the above mentioned reporters to interview the Deputy Inspector General of Police ‘D’ Department (FCID) on Monday, 8th April, 2013 at 1000 hours.”

According to Leadership, in the presidential directive Jonathan also hinted at plans to target the business interests of the ACN national leader,  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  

He also said that petrol prices would be increased from the present N97 per litre to between N130 and N140, but that public opinion should first be gauged on the matter.

Mr. Jonathan’s ambition to remain in office beyond 2015 has recently come under opposition and difficulties of many colours, including considerable turmoil within his own party, and his amateurish performance in office.

Source: Sahara Reporters

UPDATE: Jonathan Detain Leadership Journalists

LEADERSHIP, the Abuja national newspaper four of whose journalists were summoned by the police today, are being detained on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan, the newspaper has said in a statement.

As SaharaReporters reported previously, the journalists were invited to meet with the police in connection with a story the newspaper published last week about a presidential directive to muzzle political opposition, the supporting document of which appeared in the paper.

The statement, signed by the company’s Group Managing Director, Azubuike Ishiekwene, named the four journalists as Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe; Tony Amokeodo; Chibuzor Ukaibe; and Chuks Ohuegbe.

Mrs. Fred-Adebulugbe, the title’s Director of Human Capital who led the group, said that after they had given written statements to Deputy Inspector-General of Police Peter Gana who interviewed them, they were abruptly told they would not be allowed to leave unless they disclosed their source.  

“We told them that it would be unethical to disclose our source and asked them to charge us to court, if they wanted,” she said.  “They said they wanted to have the document. We said the bromide had been published and wondered why they were making such a fuss, since they said the document was a work of fiction.”

LEADERSHIP described the latest development as “a calculated and brazen affront” on press freedom, and expressed consternation that a supposedly elected government has sunk so low.

“President Jonathan and his handlers need to tell Nigerians and the civilised world why they have suddenly moved from describing the document as “fiction,” to a do-or-die obsession with knowing the source; they need to tell Nigerians most of who now live in mortal fear of their personal safety and security, if clamping down on the press has now become a priority sport,” the statement said, expressing resolve to hold the government to account as enshrined in the constitution.

“We stand by our story and will neither be cowed nor intimidated by the strong-arm tactics of President Jonathan nor by the puerile attempts by his spokesmen – Doyin Okupe and Dr. Reuben Abati – to tarnish our report,” the statement said.

Full text of the statement:

Four journalists with LEADERSHIP Newspapers have been detained at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The journalists, Mrs. Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe; Mr. Tony Amokeodo; Mr. Chibuzor Ukaibe; and Mr. Chuks Ohuegbe, had reported at the Force Headquarters on Monday morning to honour an invitation by the police.

The Director, Human Capital and former LEADERSHIP Sunday Editor, Mrs. Fred-Adegbulugbe, who led the journalists said, “After the journalists finished writing statements, DIG Peter Gana suddenly excused himself on a call from IGP Mohammed Abubakar.

“We were later told that we would not be allowed to leave except if we produced the source of the story. It was clear that this was not the call of the police. It is from President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We told them that it would be unethical to disclose our source and asked them to charge us to court, if they wanted. They said they wanted to have the document. We said the bromide had been published and wondered why they were making such a fuss, since they said the document was a work of fiction.

“The have made it clear that we would not be released except we give them the document. We can’t get out. I was escorted to use the toilet after begging.”

This is a calculated and brazen affront on press freedom; we are bereft that a supposedly elected government will come this low.

We demand the unconditional and immediate release of our journalists – Mrs. Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe (Director, Human Capital); Chuks Ohuegbe (Managing Editor); Tony Amokeodo (Group News Editor); and Chibuzor Ukaibe (Political Reporter).

President Jonathan and his handlers need to tell Nigerians and the civilised world why they have suddenly moved from describing the document as “fiction,” to a do-or-die obsession with knowing the source; they need to tell Nigerians most of who now live in mortal fear of their personal safety and security, if clamping down on the press has now become a priority sport.

On our part, we wish to restate our resolve to continue to hold the government to account as enshrined in Chapter 22 of the constitution and to remain resolute in championing the course of press freedom and the right of the people to know.

We stand by our story and will neither be cowed nor intimidated by the strong-arm tactics of President Jonathan nor by the puerile attempts by his spokesmen – Doyin Okupe and Dr. Reuben Abati – to tarnish our report.

Azubuike Ishiekwene
Group Managing Director
LEADERSHIP Group Limited

UPDATE: Leadership Newspaper sue Police

The two reporters were released on Tuesday evening.

The two Leadership Newspapers journalists, detained by the Nigerian police for a story about the presidency, have sued the police demanding N10 million damages.

Leadership Newspapers reports that Group News Editor, Tony Amoekedo; and correspondent, Chibuzo Ukaibe; are suing the Inspector General of Police for breach of trust.

The media house said its counsel, Ugo Udoji, filed the suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, where the journalists sought for enforcement of their fundamental human rights as guaranteed under Section 34, 35 and 41 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria enforceable under Section 46 of the said constitution and articles 4, 5, 6, articles 9 (2) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act). It also asks that the order operates as a stay against further arrest and detention of the applicants.

The statement by the media house also confirms the release of the duo, adding that they were asked to report at the Force Headquarters daily for further investigation.

They were detained alongside two others at the Force Headquarters following a story the newspaper published on a “presidential directive” to attack key opposition political parties’ leaders.

While Chinyere Fred-Adegbulugbe, former editor of the LEADERSHIP Sunday, now executive director, human capital; and Chuks Ohuegbe, Managing Editor, were released late Monday night, Messrs Amoekedo and Ukaibe were released earlier this evening.

Source: Premium Times