THE
UNLAWFUL AND BARBARIC INFRINGEMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS OF OGUN
STATE CORRESPONDENT OF THE PUNCH IS CONDEMNABLE
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| The Press |
The Centre for Rights and
Grassroots Initiative (CRGI) condemns in strong terms the unlawful, illegal,
barbaric and uncivilized infringement on the fundamental human rights of the
Ogun state correspondent of The Punch newspaper Mr. Segun Olatunji by the State
Security Services (SSS) and demands an immediate public apology for this
assault.
It is an indisputable fact that
the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended recognizes
the fundamental rights of citizens to information which was what this agent of
the fourth estate of the realm was constitutionally and legitimately
discharging. Also in complementing this onerous societal responsibility, the
Nigerian government enacted the freedom of information (FOI) Act in line with
the ethos of democratic governance.
Therefore, we are at a loss to
explain the Gestapo tactics of the SSS for assaulting the fundamental human rights
of Mr. Segun Olatunji as enshrined not only in the constitution but also in the
FOI Act and this is not only unacceptable but condemnable. This assault on the
media by a security agency (SSS) is a barbaric display of unconstitutional
power and has become a reoccurring decimal by security agencies which must be
curtailed if Nigeria is to take her rightful place in the comity of civilized
countries.
We are hereby calling on the
joint committee of the National Assembly on human rights to immediately summon
the Director General of the SSS to come and explain this infraction of the law
of the land by the SSS.
We are also demanding an
immediate and unconditional public apology to Mr. Segun Olatunji in particular
and Nigerians in general for this show of shame by the SSS.
We are also demanding the
immediate investigation and if found culpable, commencement of disciplinary
actions against the Ogun state director of SSS in person of Mr. Okpo, his
deputy, Mr. Umah and their PSO.
