Tag Archives: NUJ

Nigerian journalist detained for writing ‘offensive’ story against SSS – NUJ

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kogi council, has dragged the State Security Service, SSS, to a Federal High Court, Lokoja, over ‘unlawful’ arrest and continued detention of its member, Friday Ogungbemi.

Mr. Ogungbemi, a Lokoja-based journalist and publisher, was arrested and detained by the SSS, also called DSS, on November 30 over alleged offensive publication in the November 23 – December 15, 2016 edition of the Policy and Lawmakers magazine.

The NUJ, which filed the suit on behalf of the journalist, is seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights and N5 million damages for unlawful incarceration and infringement on his fundamental rights.

The NUJ’s counsel, J.U. Usman, filed the motion on notice on Tuesday.

Mr. Usman sought four reliefs, including an order enforcing the journalist’s rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement and fair hearing being violated by the respondent since Nov. 30.

He also sought an order of the court to enforce the rights being infringed upon by the respondent’s continued detention of Mr. Ogungbemi at the DSS detention facility “which is unreasonable, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void”.

The NUJ also demanded N5 million only as compensation for his unlawful arrest and detention and asked for further order(s) the court might consider just and appropriate to make for the redress of the infringement of his rights.

The reliefs, according to the counsel, are based on three grounds including that the applicant had no criminal records and that his arrest and continued detention over the publication was unreasonable, illegal and unconstitutional.

He also held that there was a competent court of jurisdiction within 16-kilometer radius from the detention facility of the respondent wherein the applicant was detained but the respondent refused or neglected to charge him to court within the constitutional period.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the motion was supported by a seven-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one T. S. Luka Esq. of J.U. Usman and Co. law firm, Lokoja.

In the written address in support of the applicant’s motion on notice, the counsel raised two issues for determination.

They include whether the arrest and continued detention of the applicant was not a violation of his rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement and fair hearing and whether the applicant was not entitled to the compensation claimed therein.

Enhance Media Salary, NUJ Urges FG

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The Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ, on Friday urged the Federal Government to enhance media salary because “journalism deserves better care like other professions”.

The union’s National President, Mr Waheed Odusile, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that improving on media wellbeing would go a long way in enhancing performance.

Odusile decried the way graduates working in the government owned media were being treated, describing the media as strong body in nation building.

“What we want from the government is a kind of enhancing the salary of journalists; let it start first with our members and colleagues in government media because the bulk of members are government employees…”

Read More: nigerianpilot

Don’t Allow Non-journalists Destroy Your Profession, Amaechi Tells NUJ

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Rivers State Governor and Chairman, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has appealed to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), not to allow non-journalists to destroy the journalism profession.

Amaechi made the call yesterday in Port Harcourt while declaring open the sixth state triennial delegates conference of the Rivers State Council of the NUJ, with the theme: ‘A Vibrant Press, National Stability And Economic Process’.

The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Information, Mr. Sam Woka said, “I am appealing to journalists to go ahead and follow up with what is happening globally. Please, don’t allow non-journalists to destroy your profession. Let the union regulate activities of journalists; let the union legalize the code of conduct; let the union publish and legalize qualifications of journalists.”

In his opening remarks, chairman of the occasion and vice chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Prof Barineme Bekee Fakae described the NUJ as a major stakeholder in the development of the country.

Fakae therefore advised NUJ to continue to connect journalists nationwide with the information and opportunities they need to advance professionally and improve the media in Nigeria.

He said, “The Nigeria Union of Journalists as a professional media organization should continue to connect journalists nationwide with the information and opportunities they need to advance professionally and improve the media in Nigeria.

NUJ Tasks Buhari On Protection Of Journalists

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration to ensure adequate protection of journalists and other media workers in the discharge of their duties.

The National President of the union, Malam Mohammed Garba, made the call in Kaduna on Monday as part of the activities marking the World Press Freedom Day 2015.

According to him, good governance can not be achieved when the press do not have undeterred access to the process of governance.

Garba said it was important for government to allow the journalists to carry out their watchdog role in the society “if any positive impact is to be made in the fight against corruption”.

The theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day is “Let Journalism Thrive! Towards Better Reporting Gender Equality and Media Safety in Digital Age.”

Garba said that this year’s theme examines issues such as free and independent journalism, and quality reporting in the context of digital age.

“This subject covers how media concentration impact on media’s role in self-regulation issues, the challenges to investigative journalism, hate speech and media information literacy,” he said.

The NUJ president charged journalists to be responsible in their professional conduct, taking into cognisance to their social responsibility as watchdog role in the society. He also tasked journalists to always remind leaders about the importance of good governance.

In his remarks, Governor Muktar Yero of Kaduna State said Journalists should be inspired to bring about the respect that the profession deserved. Yero was represented by the Commissioner for Information in the state, Ben Bako.

Credit: NAN