The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of two Kwara-based journalists, Akogun Abdulrasidi and Dare Akogun, prosecuted for defamation, by the state governor.
The Governor accused the duo of inciting the public against him because he was accused of being the most corrupt Governor the state has had so far and for facilitating N15 million for the last election of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Kwara State chapter.
According to reports, an Ilorin Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin on Friday ordered two journalists to be remanded at Oke-Kura Correctional Centre over allegations of defamation brought against them in a petition by the governor through his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.
The National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, made this announcement in a statement gathered by The PUNCH, on Saturday.
Onwubiko, in his statement, described the Governor’s arrest of the pressmen as undemocratic, draconian and abuse of power, also adding that the governor should present his factual reasons for ordering their arrests.
“The remand of the two Kwara journalists without trial again tells a sad story of abuse of power by those in government. How do journalists, members of the fourth estate of the realm, who are doing their legitimate duty, how can that be termed as incitement?
“Rather than flexing muscle and abusing power entrusted by the people of the state, the Kwara State Government should cease its draconian and undemocratic suppression of press freedom and free speech. The governor should be reminded that we are in a democracy and not dark days of military despotism.
“He should come up with facts and settle to prove his innocence against corrupt charges if he has any at all. Governors like that of Kwara and his brothers in Cross River, Kaduna, amongst others, should desist from oppressing journalists exposing their alleged malfeasance. HURIWA condemns the Kwara situation and demands an immediate end to the persecution of these media practitioners by the Kwara State governor.”
Onwubiko who cited sections 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, argued that the pressmen were in their right by expressing their opinions.
