The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is bringing legal action against President Bola Tinubu for “the unlawful ban and withdrawal of the accreditations of 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa.”
The Federal Government recently cancelled the credentials of roughly 25 journalists who had been covering events in the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to reports, the impacted journalists were instructed to give in their accreditation tags at the Presidential Villa’s main entrance.
In the lawsuit FHC/L/CS/1766/23, which was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is requesting “an order to direct and compel President Tinubu to reverse the revocation of the accreditations and ban on 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa.”
The lawsuit Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Kolawole Oluwadare, and Ms. Valentina Adegoke filed on behalf of SERAP stated in part: “The ban on the journalists from covering the Presidential Villa fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.”
“In a democratic society, the media play a crucial role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and access to information, in both its individual and collective aspects.”
“A free, independent, active, pluralistic, and diverse media is necessary for the efficient operation of a democratic society.”
By preventing these journalists and media organisations from covering the presidential villa, you are interfering with their ability to fulfil their legal constitutional duties.
“The removal of these journalists’ accreditation tags represents a clear violation of their human rights, including their right to information and their right to participate, as well as media freedom. It would significantly hinder news gathering and reporting efforts and might encourage self-censorship.
The removal of the journalists’ credentials would put obstacles in the way of Nigerians’ access to specific information about the workings of their government, which is something they are legally entitled to.
“According to reports, the blacklisted journalists come from the Vanguard daily, Galaxy TV, Ben TV, MITV, ITV Abuja, PromptNews, ONTV, and Liberty. Reporters and cameramen from broadcast, print, and internet media outlets are the main members of the media who are impacted by the withdrawal.
“Under Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution, the press, radio, television, and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental purposes set forth in this Chapter and to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.”
The Constitution’s Section 14(2)(c) states that “the participation of the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with this Constitution.”
The lawsuit’s hearing has not yet had a date set.
