The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Federal Government to urgently comply with a subsisting Federal High Court judgment mandating the investigation and prosecution of attacks against journalists, warning that continued inaction is fuelling a climate of impunity across the country.
Call for Action on World Press Freedom Day
In a statement issued to mark World Press Freedom Day, MRA expressed concern that more than two years after the February 16, 2024 ruling, the government had yet to implement key directives of the court. The judgment, delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, ordered authorities to investigate, prosecute, and punish perpetrators of attacks on journalists, as well as adopt preventive measures and ensure victims have access to remedies.
MRA's Concerns Over Impunity
Speaking on behalf of the organisation, MRA Programme Officer Ayomide Eweje said the persistent failure to enforce the ruling has emboldened violators and worsened the already fragile state of press freedom in Nigeria. “The state of media freedom remains deeply concerning,” she said, citing a pattern of intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrests, and detention of journalists by security agencies and other state actors over the past year. According to her, reporters covering governance, corruption, and accountability issues continue to face threats and, in some cases, physical attacks, developments she noted undermine both press freedom and the public’s right to information.
Background of the Case
The case leading to the judgment was instituted in October 2021 by Abuja-based lawyer Mojirayo Ogunlana on behalf of MRA against the Attorney-General of the Federation. The court granted multiple declaratory reliefs, reinforcing the government’s obligation to protect journalists and uphold constitutional rights. Despite this, MRA said accountability for such attacks remains rare, creating a permissive environment for further violations.
Misuse of Legal Instruments
The organisation also raised concerns over what it described as the misuse of legal instruments, including the Cybercrime Act, to suppress dissent and target journalists, bloggers, and media platforms under the pretext of national security or reputational protection. Beyond legal pressures, MRA highlighted worsening economic conditions within the media sector, warning that financial instability, declining revenues, and political or commercial interference are eroding editorial independence and weakening investigative journalism.
Call for Respect of Press Rights
Eweje stressed that a free and independent press is essential to democratic governance, urging authorities to halt harassment and unlawful detention of journalists, ensure transparent investigations into attacks, and review laws that conflict with constitutional and international guarantees of free expression. She further called for full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 to improve access to information and strengthen accountability, while urging security agencies, regulators, and political actors to respect press rights, particularly during elections and in matters of public interest.
Commendation for Journalists
MRA also commended Nigerian journalists for their resilience, noting that many continue to operate under difficult and often dangerous conditions. “Their courage and commitment remain indispensable to the preservation of democratic values and citizens’ rights,” she said. The organisation maintained that unless decisive action is taken to enforce existing court orders and protect media practitioners, the rule of law and democratic accountability in Nigeria will remain under serious threat.
