Press Freedom Day: Lawyers Urge Journalists Not To Be Intimidateda

Lawyers in Lagos yesterday urged journalists not to be deterred by recent happenings in the country in disseminating information.

The lawyers gave the advice in separate interviews with our correspondent on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day celebrations.

A lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Bamidele Aturu, urged journalists not to feel threatened by occurrences that could infringe on their rights to a free press.

Aturu said in Ikeja that freedom of press could not be established without sacrifices from journalists.

Aturu said it was sad that the right to a free press was not fully enforced in Nigeria, adding that many journalists had lost their lives for daring to speak the truth.

Also commenting, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Mr Adebamigbe Omole, said journalists should be appreciated as the press was an integral part of the nation.

However, others who commented on the day, urged journalists to be discreet in disseminating information and not to take the laws into their hands because of the FOI Act.

Mr Biodun Adeoye, advised media practitioners to be cautious of the things they write and say, and guard against disseminating distorted and libellous information.

Mr Paul Okoliko, a lawyer, said that the media was important in the administration of any government and so should be allowed to perform its function of a watchdog.

He said for any nation to succeed, there must exist, an informed press that would assist in disseminating information.

He, however, praised the Nigerian press which, he said, had fared well.

Mr Kola Afolayan, another lawyer, said with the signing into law of the FOI bill, more privileges should be accorded the press to freely gather and distribute news without fear or favour.

Afolayan said that the freedom of the press, guaranteed by the FOI law, must be exercised cautiously to avoid abuse.

Mr Emeka Anyiocha, a lawyer and journalist, said that the provision of Section 38 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was meant to provide for the freedom of expression of every citizen.

He said that journalists in Nigeria enjoy that freedom which formed the bedrock of their operations.

Anyiocha said the important thing was for that freedom of expression, as well as the freedom of information, to be utilised in a manner that would promote peace and unity.

He, therefore, urged journalists to be fair in their analysis of issues and always seek to foster unity in the country.

The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day is: “Media with the Power to Transform Societies.”