Abang: Press Freedom And That Obnoxious Order To Arrest Igbere TV Boss
By Oluwaseun David
The fundamental right to seek and disseminate information through an independent press is under attack, and part of the assault has come from an unexpected source. The Judiciary should under normal circumstances be the staunchest defenders of press freedom but this has not been the case from recent happenings in the country. There have been explicit attempts to silence critical media voices and strengthen outlets that serve up favourable coverage. The trend is linked to a decline in our democracy: The erosion of press freedom is both a symptom of and a contributor to the breakdown of other democratic institutions and principles, a fact that makes this recent incident more alarming.
A Federal High Court Judge in Abuja, Justice Okon Abang recently ordered the arrest of Emeh James Anyalekwa, publisher of Igbere TV News and National President, Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN). The order followe