IPI blacklists Bago, Umo Eno, Egbetokun over press freedom violations

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has listed Umaru Bago, governor of Niger; Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom; and Kayode Egbetokun, inspector general of police (IGP), in its ‘Book of Infamy’.

The book is a blacklist of public officials and institutions accused of suppressing press freedom.

Also referred to as the Book of Accountability, it catalogues incidents of media repression, harassment, and obstruction of journalists

Musikilu Mojeed, IPI Nigeria president, announced the new entries on Tuesday during the institute’s annual general meeting in Abuja.

The meeting had “Addressing media repression and safeguarding democratic accountability in Nigeria” as its theme.

Mojeed said Bago was added to the list for ordering the closure of Badeggi 90.1 FM, a radio station in Niger, in August.

He said Bago’s decision was “undemocratic, unconstitutional and unacceptable,” adding that both IPI and Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, had intervened without success.

“The matter remains unresolved. For this reason, Governor Bago is hereby listed,” Mojeed said.

Eno’s crime was expelling Christopher Mufat and Kufe Ipe, Channels Television journalists, in May after their reporting revealed remarks made by the governor.

Mojeed said efforts to engage the governor were ignored.

“For refusing to reverse his administration’s repressive action and for perpetuating a climate hostile to journalists, Governor Umo Eno is hereby listed in the Book of Accountability,” he said.

Egbetokun was added to the list for failing to curb “systemic media repression” perpetrated by police officers nationwide, including arrests and harassment of journalists despite multiple calls and engagements with the force headquarters.

“For failing to uphold his constitutional duties and allowing systematic media oppression, Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun is hereby listed,” he said.

SHETTIMA INTERVENES 

Vice President Kashim Shettima sought a two-week grace period to mediate between IPI and the listed officials.

Shettima, who chaired the occasion, spoke during the book’s launch and after Mojeed’s announcement.

“I crave your indulgence. Give us a grace period of two weeks. Governor Umo Eno is a pastor and a humble man. I will impress on him to restore those Channel reporters,” Shettima said, noting that the move coincided with his forthcoming trip to Akwa Ibom.

“Bago is my friend as well; I will invite him to my office and we will sort things out,” he added.

On Egbetokun, the vice president described the IGP as “a man in the eye of the storm”.

He promised to engage the IGP and assured IPI that the matter would be addressed.

During his remarks, Shettima said the most sacred duty of the media is the responsibility of saving democracy.

The vice president charged journalists to not only save democracy but the political class from themselves.