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THE JOURNALIST AND THE LAW



“Freedom of the press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose”—George Orwell.
It’s all about reporting! The society needs a reporter, not for what he is, but for what he does. What he does is providing information thereby creating knowledge. Knowledge is power, and journalism, through its activities, provides it.
Every democratic society creates a conducive atmosphere for the practice of journalism through laws.  These laws are known as “press laws”. Section 39, sub-section 1 and 2, of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, states as follows: (1) “…every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression including to hold opinion and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference”. (2) “…every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate a medium for information dissemination of information, ideas and opinion”. It is no doubt that these laws only exist in documents. The execution of these laws is a mirage: Over the years a lot of journalists have suffered countless persecutions form either the hands of the government or individuals.
These persecutions which begin from kidnapping of journalists and terminate at killing have spread so wild that the perpetrators do not seem to recognize the distinction between ‘aspiring reporters’ and ‘a certified professional reporter’. Once you publish a report considered pejorative, irrespective of who you are, then you might just be up for a possible persecution.
This is in relation to the plight of Emeka Onwudinjo, a second-year student of mass communication, Federal Poly-technic, Oko, Anambra State, who was expelled from school as a result of practising his desired profession—journalism.
As I stumbled upon the story “Okopoly Expels Student for Reporting News” as reported by “Daily Sun”, as a student, I couldn’t help but ask: what future does journalism hold for us in our country? How free are we in expressing our opinions?
Is it a failed career? For Emeka, if all pleas for Prof. Godwin Onu, Okopoly Rector, to rescind his stance concerning the situation, it would mark the end of his dreams. Even if he surmounts by grace, the flame of journalism in him may have been reduced to a flicker. He will be daunted, and the tendency of approaching journalism with fear will come to fore. This gruesome decision can hinder the desire of other ardent young reporters in our country. Why should one report facts and end up being battered or assaulted?
Emeka’s case is one of many in the line of reporters who have borne the cross of reporting since the history of journalism. A part from Dele Giwa and others of his time, the list below shows the names of people who have suffered as a result of serving their nation and ensuring that the ‘fourth estate of the realm’ of our nation keeps succeeding and executing its functions.
Journalists killed in Nigeria:
Sunday Gyang Bwede, The Light Bearer.
April 24, 2010, in Jos, Plateau State Nigeria.
Nathan S. Dabak, The Light Bearer.
April 24, 2010, in Jos, Plateau State Nigeria.
Bayo Ohu, The Guardia.
 September 20, 2009, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Samson Boyi, The Scope.
November 5, 1999, in Adamawa State, Nigeria.
Sam Nimfa—Jan, Details.
 May 27, 1999, in Kafanchan, Nigeria
Okezie Amaruben, Newsservice.
September 2, 1998, in Enugu, Nigeria.
Tunde Oladepo, The Guardian.
 February 26, 1998, in Abeokuta, Nigerian
Emenche Akogwu, Channels TV.
January 20, 2012, in Kano, Nigeria
Zakariya Isa, Nigerian Television Authority,
October 22, 2011, Maiduguri, Nigeria
Ikechukwu Udendu, Anambra News.
 January 12, 2013, Anambra state, Nigeria
Nasok Sallah, Highland FM.
January 18, 2012, Jos, Nigeria
Edo Sule Ugbadgwu, The Nation
 April 24, in a region outside Lagos, Nigeria
Ephraim Audu, Nasarawa State Broadcasting Service.
 October 16, 2008, in Lafia, Nigeria
Baguda Kaltho, The News.
 March 1, 1996, in Nigeria, Nigeria
Chinedu Offaro, The Guardian.
 May 1, 1996, in Nigeria.
Bolade Fasasi, National Association of Women Journalists
 March 31, 1999, in Ibadan, Nigeria
Godwin Agbroko, This Day.
December 22, 2006, Nigeria
Paul Abayomi Ogundeji, This Day.
August 16, 2008, in Dopemu, Nigeria.
To prevent more deaths, arrests, assaults, battery, and unjustified accusation of journalists, press laws should rise beyond lip-service and documentation. The complete execution of the stipulated laws protecting the 
press should be effected.


First published in The Nation Newspaper.

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