NIGERIA MEDIA MONITOR
#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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