Nigeria’s justice minister misrepresents CPJ analysis on assaults on journalists

New York, April 28, 2023—Nigerian authorities ought to revise current statements falsely characterizing CPJ’s analysis on the press freedom scenario within the nation, the Committee to Shield Journalists mentioned Friday.

On Thursday, April 27, the state-run Information Company of Nigeria reported that Legal professional Basic and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami described CPJ’s analysis in a gathering the day before today as discovering “Nigeria as the one African nation that has been in full compliance by way of the safety of the rights of the journalists.”

That report quoted Malami as saying that no journalists had been killed within the nation “arising from infractions, relating thereto.”

CPJ analysis has for years documented a gentle stream of assaults, prosecutions, and harassment of journalists in Nigeria, together with for publishing alleged “false information.” CPJ analysis exhibits not less than 24 journalists have been killed in Nigeria since 1992. No less than 12 of those journalists are confirmed to have been killed in reference to their work.

“CPJ’s analysis on press freedom in Nigeria, exhibiting years of assaults on members of the press—together with killings—strongly contradicts feedback by Legal professional Basic and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami concerning the press freedom scenario within the nation,” mentioned Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator. “Malami’s misrepresentation of CPJ analysis is especially alarming and tragically ironic given how continuously Nigerian journalists are accused and prosecuted for distributing alleged falsehoods.”

Malami gave his remarks at a briefing to advertise the Nigerian authorities’s human rights agenda, which was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In January, Ministry of Justice spokesperson Umaru Gwandu equally mischaracterized CPJ’s analysis at an occasion on the protection of journalists throughout elections.

Earlier, in 2020, Malami mischaracterized the truth that Nigeria was not included in CPJ’s annual Impunity Index as an achievement by Nigerian authorities. Nevertheless, Nigeria was now not included within the 2020 index as a result of it tracked solely killings from the earlier 10 years, and subsequently now not included a killing from 2009. Nigerian authorities haven’t achieved full accountability for any journalist deaths that CPJ has documented. Malami repeated that declare in 2022, in keeping with native media stories.

When CPJ contacted Malami for remark by way of messaging app, he requested to see CPJ’s proof on journalists’ killings. When CPJ despatched him information of journalists slain in Nigeria, he mentioned he would “overview” them after which mentioned, “Our conclusion is predicated in your stories as launched. It’s possible you’ll want to consult with your earlier releases establishing identical place.”

CPJ additionally known as Gwandu for remark however he didn’t reply.

Contacted by way of messaging app, Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu requested if CPJ had discovered the Nigerian authorities accountable for the killings of journalists. CPJ despatched findings in its database exhibiting that since 1992 authorities officers are suspected of involvement within the killings of not less than 4 journalists: Okezie Amaruben in 1998, Fidelis Ikwuebe in 1999, Treasured Owolabi in 2019, and Onifade Emmanuel Pelumi in 2020. In response, Shehu mentioned, “I work as spokesman to the President” and that Malami might converse for himself.