Kazeem Owoseni
A group devoted to the responsibility of protecting the rights of journalists, The Committee to Protect Journalists, has said nobody should be jailed or convicted for investigative journalism.
The US-based group responsible for the protection of journalists across the world, stated this while reacting to the recent arrest and prosecution of Nigerian journalists, Gidado Yushau and Alfred Olufemi, on conspiracy and defamation charges.
The group called on the authorities, to reform its judicial process, so that tyrannical political players, would not compromise the universal freedom of information.
Speaking from New York, Africa program coordinator of CPJ, Angela Quintal, revealed on Friday that it is disgusting for journalists to be sentenced for publishing an investigative report.
A magistrate court in Kwara State had convicted Yushau, publisher of a privately owned News Digest, and freelance reporter Olufemi, for criminal defamation and conspiracy, with a fine option of N100,000.
“CPJ gathered that the duo was convicted in 2019 over a report about alleged cannabis use at a rice processing facility following a complaint by a company representative, Hillcrest Agro-Allied Industries. Before charges were filed
“Nigerian journalists Gidado Yushau and Alfred Olufemi should never have been charged, let alone convicted, for publishing an investigative report about a factory,” the coordinator said.
