17.09.2008 - Source: BBC News

A TV station is shut down and journalists are arrested after saying the president would resign ("Nigeria shuts TV over hoax report") [ID 24749]

Document(s): Open document

17.09.2008 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Security agents close TV station that said president was resigning ("Security agents close TV station that said president was resigning") [ID 24755]

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16.09.2008 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Translator of American filmmaker still harassed by authorities ("Translator must again report to security services") [ID 24754]

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09.09.2008 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

US filmmaker and reporter released after ten days of questioning ("US filmmaker and reporter released after ten days of questioning") [ID 24748]

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09.09.2008 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

American filmmaker Berends freed, Nigerian translator still faces questioning ("Filmmaker Berends freed, Nigerian still faces questioning") [ID 24753]

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08.09.2008 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

American filmmaker still detained, while his translator has been temporarily released ("American filmmaker still detained") [ID 24752]

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05.09.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Samuel George, a Nigerian national who had been acting as a translator and guide for a US filmmaker, is being held incommunicado without charge by the States Security Services (SSS) ("Urgent Action 247/08 [AFR 44/019/2008]") [ID 24747]

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05.09.2008 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Journalist and translator temporarily released ("Journalist and translator temporarily released") [ID 24751]

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04.09.2008 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

CPJ demands release of journalist and translator; they have been detained for 5 days ("CPJ demands release of journalist and translator") [ID 24750]

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02.09.2008 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Port Harcourt: US filmmaker and interpreter arrested on spying charge ("US filmmaker and interpreter arrested in Port Harcourt on spying charge") [ID 24745]

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02.09.2008 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Port Harcourt: Journalist and media worker detained ("Journalist and media worker detained in Port Harcourt") [ID 24746]

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21.08.2008 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Lagos: Journalist murdered in unclear circumstances ("Journalist murdered in unclear circumstances in Lagos") [ID 24538]

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28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Journalists arrested in 2007 ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 24181]

"Human rights defenders and journalists critical of the government continued to face intimidation and harassment. Many were arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) and released after interview. A US citizen and director of a Nigerian-based NGO, a Nigerian staff member and two German journalists were arrested by the SSS in September on suspicion of spying. They were later released without charge. In September a journalist was beaten unconscious when he covered a prison riot in Ibadan. The SSS arrested several journalists in October who had criticized the governors of Borno and Akwa Ibom states."

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18.04.2008 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Four American documentary filmmakers and Nigerian colleague freed by authorities ("Authorities free four US filmmakers and Nigerian colleague") [ID 22900]

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14.04.2008 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Delta State: Four American documentary filmmakers and a Nigerian citizen arrested by the Nigerian military ("Film crew arrested along Niger Delta") [ID 22898]

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21.03.2008 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Lagos State: Daily’s cartoonist attacked at home by armed intruders ("Lagos-based daily’s cartoonist attacked at home by armed intruders") [ID 22663]

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11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Ondo State: A journalist was beaten to coma by the police officers, including the Deputy Commissioner ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23392]

"Security forces beat journalists. For example, on May 1, journalist Dare Folorunso was taken to a hospital in a coma after several Ondo State policemen, including Deputy Commissioner Joshua Mumbo, beat him. Police objected to Folorunso taking photos during a May Day rally at Akure Stadium and attempted to confiscate his camera, at which point Folorunso defended himself. He later recovered and was discharged. The local Union of Journalists asked police to pay compensation and offer Folorunso a public apology; however, no action was taken by year's end."

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11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

In January 2007 security forces detained journalists of the newspaper "Leadership" and sealed the offices ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23393]

"Security forces detained journalists and seized newspapers during the year. For example, on January 9, SSS agents raided the offices of the daily newspaper Leadership. Agents seized documents and detained reporter Danladi Ndayebo for nine hours, questioning him about his sources for a January 6 story that contended presidential candidate Peter Odili was forced out of the primaries by then-president Obasanjo. The SSS sealed the Leadership offices, questioned staff, and demanded copies of the original draft of the story. SSS agents also detained Editor Bashir Bello Akko for 15 hours, General Manager Samuel Nda-Isaiiah for nine hours, and staff member Abubakar Dzukogi for two hours."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Two journalists of the "Inquirer" were arrested in connection with an article, which assumed that a military coup was possible ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23394]

"On January 10, SSS officials detained Abuja Inquirer publisher Dan Akpovwa and editor Sode Abbah in connection with a story that claimed a military coup was possible because of a public disagreement between former president Obasanjo and former vice president Atiku Abubakar. SSS agents sealed the newspaper's office and seized computer discs, a hard drive, and copies of the newspaper. Akpovwa was released after 36 hours, and Abbah was released after 48 hours."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Akwa Ibom State: Printing plants of the paper "Events" were raided because an article linked the governor Godswill Akpabio with illegal transactions in Abia State ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23395]

"On June 27, 15 armed men, including two police officers in uniform, stormed the printing plant of privately owned weekly paper Events in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and allegedly seized about 5,000 copies of the newspaper. The men arrived in five vehicles, one of which had a government license plate from southern Akwa Ibom State. The raid was linked to an article in the paper reporting an alleged criminal indictment against Governor Godswill Akpabio over illicit business transactions in neighboring Abia State. Although Governor Akpabio had been indicted by a commission of inquiry, he had not been formally indicted by a court. The paper republished the story the following day without incident. On October 10, the SSS arrested Events editor Jerome Imeime and charged him with sedition for criticizing the state's governor on the front page of the paper. Imeime was released three weeks later, and no further information was available at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Television program AIT was forced by security forces and the police to stop transmitting a documentary critical of the President Obasanjo ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23396]

"On April 16, the SSS, backed by the police, forcefully entered the transmission studio of AIT and forced the staff to stop transmitting a documentary critical of President Obasanjo and the ruling PDP. In place of the documentary, a tape conveying campaign activities of PDP presidential candidate Yar'Adua and highlights of Obasanjo's achievements was played. SSS agents seized tapes of all commercially sponsored programs that were scheduled for that day and also shut down AIT's sister radio station, Ray Power FM. Press reports quoted SSS Spokesman Ado Muazu as saying that the programming had "security implications." The NBC warned the station that it would face "serious sanction" if it aired the program again."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Oyo State: Unknown men invaded and destroyed the studios of the Broadcasting Corporation, which lead to the disruption of the transmission ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23397]

"On May 23, armed men invaded the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, where the Oyo State radio and television stations were located. Some workers were injured as the men vandalized the studios, carted away broadcast equipment, and disrupted broadcasting. The affiliation of the armed men had not been determined by year's end."

Document(s): Open document

20.02.2008 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Arrested while investigating murder, journalist freed on bail after 12 days inprisionment ("Newspaper reporter freed on bail after being held for 12 days") [ID 22655]

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31.01.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Federal Capital Territory: In June 2007 authorities demolished the offices of Africa Independent Television (AIT) ("World Report 2008") [ID 22269]

"In June 2007 authorities in the Federal Capital Territory demolished the new offices of Africa Independent Television (AIT), a move that was widely seen as a reprisal for AIT’s critical coverage of the 2007 elections and of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s failed bid to secure a third term in office."

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29.01.2008 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Akwa Ibom State: Chairman Sam Asowata and local distributor Essien Ewoh of independent newspaper Fresh Facts arrested at state governor’s behest; Sam Asowata released after 2 days arrest ("Newspaper’s chairman and local distributor arrested at state governor’s behest") [ID 22637]

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29.01.2008 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Akwa Ibom State: Sam Asowata, chairman of the editorial board of the newspaper 'Fresh Facts' charged with sedition; court denies bail ("Nigerian editor charged with sedition, jailed") [ID 22638]

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25.01.2008 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Akwa Ibom State: Newspaper distributor Essien Asuquo Owoh arrested and charged with sedition ("Nigerian newspaper distributor arrested, charged") [ID 22635]

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25.10.2007 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Northern Nigeria: Journalists arrested twice by State Security Service, then placed under its daily control ("Journalists harassed by governor of northern state") [ID 21795]

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06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

In June 2006 2 Journalists were released on bail after being detained for several days and charged with sedition; they had covered allegations that a presidential jet purchased by government was 5 years old instead of new ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20552]

"In June 2006, agents of the State Security Service (SSS) arrested two Lagos-based journalists who had covered allegations that a presidential jet purchased by the government was a five-year-old aircraft from the German carrier Lufthansa and not a new jet bought directly from the manufacturer, Boeing, as the government had claimed. After several days in custody, the journalists were charged with sedition and released on bail. The case received local and international attention, as the journalists, Mike Gbenga Aruleba of African Independent Television and Rotimi Durojaiye of the Daily Independent newspaper, were well known and respected, and there seemed to be no grounds for the sedition charges against them. The head of the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission, Bukhari Bello, was removed from his position days after publicly criticizing the journalists’ arrests as an affront to free expression and the rule of law."

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06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

Ebonyi State: In 2006 2 journalists were arrested and charged with sedition over an article criticizing the state governor; they were released after 2 months; charges remained pending ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20561]

"Local authorities regularly target journalists who criticize them. In 2006, two journalists in southeastern Ebonyi State were arrested, charged with sedition over an article criticizing the state governor, and kept in jail for over two months owing to stringent conditions for bail. The journalists, Imo Eze and Oluwole Elenyinmi, respectively director and editor of the local bimonthly Ebonyi Voice , were freed following local and international pressure on the governor, but the charges against them remained pending."

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

In June 2006 2 journalists who had covered corruption scandal involving purchase of presidential jet were arrested by the SSS, charged with sedition and then released on bail; charges against one of them were dropped ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20562]

"The New York–based Committee to Protect Journalists has documented a pattern of media repression by the SSS, an elite corps that answers directly to the president. SSS agents have on occasion arrested journalists, confiscated newspapers, and harassed news vendors. In June 2006, the SSS arrested two journalists who had covered a corruption scandal involving the purchase of a presidential jet. They were charged with sedition and released on bail; the charges against one of the journalists were dropped before the end of the year."

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Lagos: Godwin Agbroko of the private Thisday newspaper was shot dead ("Annual Report 2007") [ID 20172]

"On 22 December the head of the editorial board of the privately owned Thisday newspaper, Godwin Agbroko, was found shot to death in Lagos in suspicious circumstances."

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18.04.2007 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Intelligence agents raid TV station during programme about President Obasanjo ("Intelligence agents raid TV station during programme about President Obasanjo") [ID 19643]

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06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

2 journalists were arrested in June after they reported that President Obasanjo purchased an airplane; they were released on bail ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19715]

"Security forces detained journalists during the year. For example, on June 14, in a case that drew substantial nationwide attention, SSS officers detained journalists Gbenga Mike Aruleba of Africa Independent Television and Rotimi Durojaiye of the Daily Independent newspaper in Lagos, who had reported earlier in the month that President Obasanjo had purchased a secondhand airplane. The journalists were charged with sedition and released on bail during a June 29 hearing. Observers noted that attendance at a June 25 hearing was closely monitored by SSS. At an October 10 hearing, the charges against Aruleba were dismissed, but those against Durojaiye and his newspaper were not. At year's end Durojaiye remained free on bail while an appeals court considered the constitutionality of the sedition charge."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Radio stations were suspended, newspapers confiscated during the year ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19716]

"The government suspended radio stations or confiscated newspapers during the year. In March the government restricted Freedom Radio in Kano from broadcasting between 5:00 and 10:00 PM for several days after the station aired a live call-in show in which callers criticized the government."

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22.01.2007 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

CPJ urges thorough probe in Nigerian editor's slaying ("CPJ urges thorough probe in Nigerian editor's slaying") [ID 18663]

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11.01.2007 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Abuja: Intelligence agency raided 2 newspapers and arrested their staff ("Intelligence agency raids two Abuja-based newspapers, arrests staff") [ID 18672]

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10.01.2007 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Abuja: Daily raided by state security agents because of article raising critical questions about ruling party ("Nigeria's SSS grills journalists over story critical of ruling party") [ID 18676]

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09.2006 - Source: Freedom House

Owei Kobina Sikpi arrested in October after publishing an article alleging a state governor's involvement in money laundering ("Freedom in the World 2006") [ID 18155]

"A newspaper publisher, Owei Kobina Sikpi, was arrested in October after his publication, the Weekly Star, carried an article alleging a state governor was involved in money laundering. Sikpi was held secretly for nearly a week and then charged with seven counts of false information. Members of the State Security Service (SSS) in August raided the offices of the Lagos-based weekly The Exclusive and confiscated more than 200 copies of the tabloid. Authorities apparently wanted to censor coverage of ethnic Igbo nationalist groups. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has documented a pattern of SSS suppression of publications reporting on the proseparatist group MASSOB."

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23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Publisher of the weekly Midwest Herald detained incommunicado and held by police without charge from 2 - 13 May ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 17607]

"On 2 May police arrested Omo-Ojo Orobosa, publisher of the weekly Midwest Herald, in Lagos, and detained him incommunicado and without charge until 13 May at an interrogation centre. He appeared to have been detained because his paper had reported allegations that relatives of President Obasanjo would benefit from the sale of government-owned flats."

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23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Publisher of Weekly Star newspaper arrested on 11 October after his paper accused the Governor of Rivers State of money laundering ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 17609]

"On 11 October, Owei Kobina Sikpi, publisher of the Weekly Star newspaper, was arrested and charged with “false publication” after an article in his paper accused the Governor of Rivers State of money laundering."

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08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Journalists beaten on several occasions by security forces during the year ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17089]

"Security forces beat journalists on several occasions during the year. For example on January 4, at an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of the ruling PDP, police beat 11 journalists and broke cameras while an assistant inspector general of police watched; a Nigerian Tribune journalist was hospitalized. Police claimed they were acting on orders of PDP officials not to allow journalists to cover the closed meeting. On March 4, members of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) paramilitary group detained and beat a reporter/photographer for The Punch newspaper in Lagos. The reporter was photographing KAI members stopping jaywalkers on a Lagos highway. A KAI spokesman acknowledged the incident but claimed the reporter was beaten by an individual who was not a KAI member. The Lagos State government had launched the KAI program in 2003 with the goal of cleaning up Lagos by punishing wrongdoers. On December 1 in Lagos, police accompanying the Lagos State governor beat a reporter for the New Age newspaper and smashed her digital camera as she was taking photographs of police forcefully breaking up a demonstration at the Lagos State Secretariat. A deputy superintendent of police apologized for the beating, but suggested that the demonstrators, not the police, should buy the reporter a new camera."

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08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Several arrests of journalists by security forces ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17090]

"Security forces also detained journalists during the year. In June following the publication of an article that reported a Kogi State police commissioner's humiliation by armed bandits, Kogi State police occupied the headquarters of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state capital, Lokoja, and harassed, intimidated, and arrested journalists. The police left the NUJ headquarters after three days, following negotiations with the NUJ National Secretariat, and released all arrested journalists without charges. On January 19, Rivers State police arrested the publisher of the Port Harcourt weekly magazine National Network for publishing negative reports regarding the Rivers State police commissioner. Police released the publisher a few days later without charges. On January 20, SSS agents arrested the Enugu State chairman of the Newspapers Vendors' Association of Nigeria, along with two newspaper vendors, for selling copies of the tabloid newspaper Eastern Pilot, which carried reports of "the emergence of a new Biafra nation." The three were interrogated at SSS headquarters, then released the same day. An SSS spokesman defended the arrests, claiming that Eastern Pilot was a "subversive" publication. In March police arrested two Australian journalists when they asked permission to film the demolition of a shanty town. After several hours of being held without charge, police released them. On April 8, military authorities detained the chief correspondent of the Associated Press in the country for questioning. Authorities told the correspondent he was detained for entering a military zone without a permit. The authorities released the correspondent after several hours."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Suspension of radio stations and broadcast services ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17091]

"The government suspended radio stations or confiscated newspapers during the year. For example on February 10, SSS agents in Onitsha, Anambra State, confiscated numerous copies of magazines and newspapers with articles regarding MASSOB. Members of the Newspapers Distributors and Agents Association held a rally in Onitsha to protest against SSS intimidation of the newspaper vendors. The NBC suspended for one day the broadcast license of DAAR Communications, which operates African Independent Television and Ray Power Radio, for alleged "unauthorized and unprofessional" reporting following the crash of Bellview flight 210 on October 22. Most observers felt DAAR was being penalized for finding the crash site when authorities could not. After criticism from President Obasanjo and from the minister of information, the action was quickly rescinded."

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08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Owei Sikpi, publisher of the Weekly Star newspaper, detained in Port Harcourt ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17096]

"In October SSS agents in Port Harcourt detained Chief Owei Sikpi, publisher of the Weekly Star newspaper, for alleged libel against the federal government and the Rivers State government. The Rivers State prosecutor pleaded with a Port Harcourt high court to deny bail to Sikpi because of "the weight of the offense." Sikpi remained in custody at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Editor arrested on 19 December on charges of a false report ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17097]

"On December 19, SSS agents arrested an editor and a presenter at privately-owned radio station Rhythm FM for falsely reporting that a bridge outside Port Harcourt had collapsed. They were charged with intent to cause public panic and fear, and remained in custody at year's end."

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27.11.2003 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

The editor-in-chief and 2 executive editors of the magazine Insider Weekly have been charged with sedition and criminal defamation after the magazine accused close aides of President Olusegun Obasanjo of involvement with the criminal gangs ("Three journalists charged with sedition") [#17890],  [ID 15223]

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02.07.2003 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Abuja: 2 journalists arrested and 3 other beaten by police during union-led street protests against increases of more than 50 per cent in fuel prices ("Police arrest and beat up journalists during street protests in Abuja") [#14016],  [ID 15224]

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09.04.2003 - Source: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Query response on The Democrat newspaper; whether it was based in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and in circulation between 1994 and 1995; whether it published articles critical of the Nigerian government's treatment of the Yoruba ethnic group ("The Democrat newspaper; whether it was based in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and in circulation between 1994 and 1995; whether it published articles critical of the Nigerian government's treatment of the Yoruba ethnic group (January 1994 to January 1995) [NGA40465.E]") [ID 24744]

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04.07.2001 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Editor of weekly magazine arrested on charges of criminal defamation ("Nigeria: CPJ protests against journalist's arrest") [#2404],  [ID 15225]

"The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has written to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo expressing its concern over the recent arrest of the editor of a weekly magazine on charges of criminal defamation. In the letter, dated 2 July, the CPJ said it was "greatly disturbed by the recent arrest and continuing prosecution of Nnamdi Onyenua." On 8 June, CPJ said, armed police entered the offices of Millenium Communications which publishes the Lagos-based magazine 'Glamour Trends' and fired their guns to disperse employees. They then arrested Onyenua and drove him to the capital, Abuja, under heavy police escort. His arrest resulted from an article entitled, 'Secrets Behind Obasanjo's Trips', published on 6 June. It alleged that Obasanjo receives US $1 million in allowances for each overseas trip and, since his election in May 1999, has amassed some US $58 million. The CPJ urged Obasanjo to drop the charges against Onyenua and work towards the repeal of all laws that criminalise defamation and other press offences."

Document(s): 01330nig.htm
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