NIGERIA MEDIA MONITOR

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#03-15 MONDAY APRIL 13, 1998


*	JOURNALIST ASSAULTED
*	COUP TRIAL STALLS RELEASE OF POLITICAL DETAINEES - MINISTER
*	COURT UPHOLDS JOURNALISTS' RIGHTS TO COVER PROCEEDINGS.
*	NO RESPITE YET ON NEWSPAPER DECREE

NEWSREEL
JOURNALIST ASSAULTED
On 6 April 1998, the Plateau State correspondent of "The Diet" newspaper,
Isaac Agbo was severely beaten and subjected to physical drills by
security officers attached to the Special Military Tribunal (SMT) trying
the 26 coup suspects in Jos. Agbo, who had been covering the trial, was
accused of driving on the same road used by the vehicles conveying the
coup suspects to court, and over-speeding.

COUP TRIAL STALLS RELEASE OF POLITICAL DETAINEES
The trial of Lt.-General Oladipo Diya and 25 others by a Special Military
Tribunal in Jos is delaying the much anticipated release of political
detainees by the Federal Government, the Minister of Internal Affairs,
Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu has said.

Since the Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha announced the release of some
political detainees on November 17, conflicting signals have emerged as to
what he really meant in his statement on the detaineees.

The Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie said people who
interpreted the Head of State's address to mean the possible release of
detainees were ignorant.

But Alhaji Dalhatu, said Gen. Abacha actually promised to release
detainees, but that they had not been released because of security and
logistic reasons.

He said the announcement of an attempted coup in December 4 was
responsible for the delay in releasing the political detainees, adding,
"government was about releasing some detainees when the coup story came up
and it diverted attention away from detainees."

The minister also announced that a general prison reforms in the country
has commenced with the distribution of amenities to all prisons and
assured that something positive would be done on the issue soon.

Alhaji Bashir said that under the reforms, prisoners uniform would be
changed, while their feeding allowance will be increased from N50 (60
cents) to N100 ($1.20) daily per prisoner.

COURT UPHOLDS JOURNALISTS' RIGHTS TO COVER PROCEEDINGS
A judge of an Ilorin High court, Justice Fola Gbadeyan, last weekend
upheld the rights of journalists to cover the proceedings of his court,
irrespective of the cause of action, or who was involved in a matter.

Gbadeyan said this while considering a complaint by the counsel to the
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, (UITH), Dr. G.O. Ogunyomi, at the
resumption of hearing in a N1 million($12,500) suit against the hospital.

One, Mrs. Theresa Akilo had earlier prayed the court to award a N1m
($12,500) cost against the hospital and three others, for an alleged
improper diagnosis and negligence during a Caesarean operation on her.

But as soon as journalists entered the courtroom Ogunyomi raised an
observation over newspaper reports of previous week's proceedings,
pleading with the court to stop the press from further coverage of the
proceedings.

The trial judge, however, ruled that "if their reports have been adverse,
you know the channel to take." Turning to journalists, the judge said
"gentlemen, have your seat and do your work, you have the right to report
us and the society."

 FEATURE
NO RESPITE YET ON NEWSPAPER DECREE
>From the outset the newspapers decree had been a problem child with the
contending forces refusing to agree among themselves. The government
insisted on the N250,000 ($3,000) registration fee stipulated by Decree 43
of 1993 while the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN)
insistently cried foul.

Early last month, the government attempted what is considered a
soft-pedaling by announcing a possible reduction of the fee but the
publishers are still not impressed.

Ray Ekpu, NPAN general secretary said the publishers are bent on ensuring
that the implementation of the registration decree does not materialise.
He was reacting to a recent report that information and culture minister
Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu would want a reduction of the N250,000 ($3,000)
pre-registration deposit and non-refundable fee of N100,000 ($1,200) and
had urged the Newspapers Registration Board (NRB) to work out the formula.

The minister gave the directive during a recent visit to the board's
office in Abuja where he praised the registration board of its various
programmes which include issuing of 187 registration forms inspite of
agitation against the fee. Ekpu said that the contention of the Nigerian
Press Organisation (NPO) which comprises the Newspaper Proprietors
Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the
Nigerian Guild of Editor (NGE) is not just with the fee. "Its a lot more
fundamental than that. We object to the censorship. That is the issue. Not
just fee."
 
He added that the NPAN as a body was surprised at the minister's statement
which necessitated a visit by a delegate to his office recently "to let
him know that the issue had not been resolved and laid to rest contrary to
what officials may have told him."

Mokelu during his visit to the (NRB) office was reported to have said he
was convinced about a cut in the fee after a careful study of all relevant
factors involved. This was after Mr. Sam Ekpenkhio, chief executive
officer of the board had informed him that some sections of the private
print media had criticised the Decree which established the board, saying
the registration fee was too exorbitant and the penalties severe.

Ekpenkhio added that in response to this criticism "the board submitted a
proposal to the former minister for the downward review of the fees and
amendment to the objectionable clauses in the decree."

The information minister by his statement must have concurred to the NRB
boss' statement. But this perception Ekpu said the NPAN tried to change at
the meeting with Mokelu. According to him "the minister got the sense of
the fact that we feel very strongly about these issues and we would pursue
them to a logical end because we let him know that the issue predates
several administrations.

"We told him that we met former president Ibrahim Babangida before he left
office, Chief Ernest Shonekan when he took over and also met General Sani
Abacha when he took over from Shonekan. And that we've met all the
information ministers since then on the issue.  Apart from these we also
made a special presentation to the Head of State's special adviser on
legal matters, Dr. Auwalu Yadudu as well as addressed a letter to General
Abacha on these issues jointly signed by the media owners and publishers
in Nigeria" explained the NPAN general secretary. He added that the
delegate left that meeting with the impression and believe that "it became
clear to him that these are not issues that we take lightly. These are not
issues that somebody can just dismiss with a wave of the hand and believe
that the media community will just accept whatever is pushed down their
throat."

The last time the Newspapers Registration Decree became a public issue was
in July last year when the former information and culture minister, Dr.
Walter Ofonagoro, accused the NPAN of hypocrisy with regards to a promised
input into the proposed amendment at the Nigerian Guild of Editors Forum
held in Lagos.  NPAN president, Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua rebutted the
allegation and reaffirmed the association's rejection of the decree.

He said: "We have not reneged on any promise because we did not promise
anybody that we are bringing any amendment." Isa accepted that it was true
that the minister asked the NPAN to bring the amendments "but we have told
him times without number our position - that law is a bad one and because
it is bad we reject it - if we send an amendment that means we accept it."

But Ofonagoro vowed to pass and enformce the law. He said the ministry had
made its amendments "and when the decree comes out we shall enforce it."

Before the former minister of information's outburst in July 1997 the NPAN
had soft-pedaled its public campaign against Decree 43 while concentrating
on fighting for the abrogation of the proposed National Mass Media
Commission (NMMC) from the 1995 Draft constitution as well as the proposed
press court.

Under the aegis of the NPO, the association along with the NUJ and NGE
came up with a position paper on the two issues. Ekpu said that the fact
that the NPO has not printed a document or put in place elaborate campaign
on the Newspapers Registration Decree 43 does not mean it has
discountenanced it as a serious threat

"Actually the strategy at the time which was mutually agreed on was that
we should just leave it to die a  natural death. Although our pressure was
that the decree should be repealed outright," he said.

The Newspapers Decree 43 of 1993 when it was released in August 1993
stipulates that newspaper publishers must apply for registration within
three weeks. In what is feared to have implicitly voided existing
registrations, publishers are to pay a registration fee of N250,000
($3,000) and non refundable deposit of N100,000 ($1,200). Registration
will also be renewed yearly after the payment of a renewal fee to be
determined by the registration board. Renewal of registration not
completed within six weeks after the expiration of an existing
registration will necessitate a cessation of publication by the affected
newspapers. Fresh application for registration of newspapers which do not
succeed in their bid will have their pre-registration deposits returned to
them. Such deposits will however be paid into a special fund to be
established by the board.

Aside from these, the decree curiously stipulates that the information
minister be notified of the appointment of editors while contravention of
the registration guidelines attracts conviction to a fine of N250,000
($3,000) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or to both.
Circulation of unregistered newspaper attracts N100,000 ($1,200) fine or
five years imprisonment or to both.

The Guardian Newspapers Limited successfully opposed this decree when a
Lagos High Court declared it null and void. Aside the newspaper, the Lagos
NUJ still has, pending, in court its case against the Decree. But largely
the uncooperative stand of newspapers and magazine publishers to adhere to
the provisions of the decree when a Lagos High Court declared it null and
void has stalled its implementation. However this has not stopped the
federal government from funding the board since its establishment in 1993.

Ekpenkhio, its chief executive said the board is presently undertaking a
census of the publications in the country as well as comprehensive
registration of new publications and planning to establish a library and
documentation centre. He listed accommodation and transportation as some
of the problems facing the board in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This notwithstanding, the relevance of the board has been questioned while
those it is expected to work with are distancing themselves from it.
Source: The Guardian, April 6, 1998.


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