In response to President Bola Tinubu’s “unlawful ban and withdrawal of the accreditations of 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa,” the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against him.
25 journalists’ credentials to cover events at the Presidential Villa in Abuja were recently revoked by the Federal Government.
According to reports, the affected journalists were instructed to turn in their accreditation tags at the Presidential Villa’s main entrance.
However, SERAP claims it is requesting: “an order to direct and compel President Tinubu to reverse the revocation of the accreditations and ban on 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa” in a new lawsuit with suit number FHC/L/CS/1766/23 that was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
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“A perpetual injunction to prevent President Tinubu or any other authority, person, or group of persons from unilaterally and arbitrarily revoking the accreditation of any journalists and media outlets from covering the Presidential Villa,” according to SERAP’s request.
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SERAP is also asking for “a declaration that the right to freedom of expression, access to information, participation, and media freedom is incompatible with the withdrawal and revocation of accreditation tags and the prohibition on journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa without any lawful justifications.
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In the lawsuit, SERAP claims that: “If not overturned, the arbitrary ban on journalists covering the Presidential Villa would pave the way for other cases of arbitrary rulings and would limit people’s right to freedom of expression, access to information, participation, and media freedom. “.
SERAP is asserting the following in the lawsuit it filed on behalf of itself through its attorneys Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Kolawole Oluwadare, and Ms. Valentina Adegoke.
“There are no legitimate explanations for the cancellation of the journalists’ accreditations. It is in conflict and incompatible with the public interest, the just demands of a democratic society, non-discrimination, plurality of voices, and diversity of voices. “.
In part, it said;.
“The prohibition against journalists covering the Presidential Villa does not comply with the standards of legality, necessity, and proportionality. “.
“In a democratic society, the media play a crucial role as a means of expressing one’s ideas and gaining access to information, both in their individual and collective forms. “.
“A democratic society cannot function properly without the presence of a free, independent, active, pluralistic, and diverse media. “.
In the absence of a variety of information sources and media outlets, the free exchange of ideas and news is impossible. The democratic process is severely hampered by the lack of a variety of information sources. “.
In order to advance the group deliberative process on public and democratic issues, it is essential that the right to free expression be exercised through the media. “.
“The right to informed and reasoned participation is a precondition for the exercise of other human rights, and the strengthening of the guarantee of freedom of expression is a precondition for both. “.
“Freedom and diversity must be the guiding principles in the measures to promote media freedom, in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party. The 25-journalist ban runs completely counter to and against the spirit of these values. “.
“The Federal Government should strive to promote and broaden the scope of media freedom, access to information, freedom of expression, and citizen participation, not restrict these fundamental freedoms. “.
“To prevent these journalists and media organizations from covering the Presidential Villa is to prevent them from fulfilling their legitimate constitutional obligations. “.
“The removal of these journalists’ accreditation tags directly infringes on media freedom and other human rights, such as the right of access to information and the right to participate. It could result in self-censorship and have a significant chilling effect on functions related to news gathering and reporting. “.
“The cancellation of the journalists’ press passes would put obstacles in the way of Nigerians’ constitutionally guaranteed access to certain information about the workings of their government. “.
In order to maintain an open and accountable government, media freedom, information access, and the right to participate are essential. These liberties are so essential to a democracy that they take precedence over any flimsy justifications such as “security concerns” and “overcrowding of the press gallery area.”. ‘”.
“According to reports, the Federal Government removed the accreditation tags of about 25 journalists and media outlets on August 18, 2023, preventing them from covering events at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. “.
“According to reports, the banned journalists come from the Vanguard newspaper, Galaxy TV, Ben TV, MITV, ITV Abuja, PromptNews, ONTV, and Liberty. Reporters and cameramen from broadcast, print, and online media outlets are the main members of the other media staff who are impacted by the withdrawal. “.
According to Nigeria’s Constitution, which is outlined in Section 22, “the press, radio, television, and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental goals set forth in this Chapter and to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people. ‘”.
The Constitution’s “Section 14(2)(c)” states that “the participation of the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with this Constitution’s provisions. ‘”.
In a similar vein, every person has the right to information, according to Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Everyone has the right to voice their opinions and spread them. ‘”.
‘Every citizen shall have the right to participate freely in the government of his country,’ states Article 13 of the Constitution. The right to equal access to his country’s public services belongs to every citizen. Every person has the right to use public facilities and services. ‘”.
Similar provisions can be found in Articles 19 and 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. “.
The court hearing for the lawsuit has not yet been scheduled.
coverage of the Presidential Villa.
In response to President Bola Tinubu’s “unlawful ban and withdrawal of the accreditations of 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa,” the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against him. “.
The accreditations of 25 journalists to cover events at the Presidential Villa in Abuja were recently revoked by the Federal Government. According to reports, the affected journalists were instructed to turn in their accreditation tags at the Presidential Villa’s main entrance.
But in a new lawsuit filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos with the case number FHC/L/CS/1766/23, SERAP claims it is requesting: “an order to direct and compel President Tinubu to reverse the revocation of the accreditations and ban on 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa. “.
“A perpetual injunction to prevent President Tinubu or any other authority, person, or group of persons from unilaterally and arbitrarily revoking the accreditation of any journalists and media outlets from covering the Presidential Villa,” according to SERAP’s request. “.
In addition, SERAP is asking for a “declaration that the withdrawal and revocation of accreditation tags and the prohibition on journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa without any lawful justifications is inconsistent with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, participation, and media freedom.
“.
In its lawsuit, SERAP claims that if the arbitrary ban on journalists covering the presidential villa is not overturned, it will lead to more arbitrary decisions and limit people’s freedoms of expression, access to information, participation, and media freedom.
“.
In the lawsuit brought on behalf of SERAP by attorneys Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Kolawole Oluwadare, and Ms. Valentina Adegoke, SERAP is making the following claims as well.
“There are no legitimate justifications for revoking the press credentials of the journalists. It is at odds and at odds with the public interest, the just demands of a democratic society, and plurality, diversity, and non-discrimination of voices.
“.
In part, it said;.
“The restriction on journalists’ access to the Presidential Villa does not adhere to the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
“.
In a democratic society, “the media plays a crucial role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and access to information – in its individual and collective aspects.
“.
“A democratic society cannot function properly without a free, independent, active, pluralistic, and diverse media.
“.
“Only in the context of a diversity of information sources and media outlets is the free exchange of ideas and news possible.
Democracy faces a significant challenge due to the scarcity of diverse information sources.
“.
“The advancement of the collective deliberative process on public and democratic issues is guaranteed by the exercise of the right to freedom of expression through the media.
“.
“The improvement of the freedom of expression guarantee is a requirement for the enjoyment of other human rights, as well as a requirement for the right to informed and thoughtful participation in public life.
“.
“In accordance with the 1999 Nigerian Constitution [as amended] and the human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a party, freedom and diversity must be the guiding principles in the actions taken to promote media freedom.
The 25-journalist ban runs completely counter to and against the spirit of these values.
“.
“The Federal Government should strive to promote and broaden the scope of media freedom, access to information, freedom of expression, and citizen participation, not restrict these fundamental freedoms.
“.
“To prevent these journalists and media organizations from covering the Presidential Villa would be to deny them the opportunity to fulfill their legitimate constitutional duty.
“.
“Removing these journalists’ accreditation tags is a clear violation of their right to free speech, access to information, and participation as well as the freedom of the press.
It could trigger self-censorship and have a significant chilling effect on news gathering and reporting activities.
“.
“The cancellation of the journalists’ press passes would erect obstacles in the way of Nigerians’ access to specific information about the workings of their government, information to which they are constitutionally entitled.
“.
“The preservation of an open and accountable government requires media freedom, information access, and the right to participate. These liberties are so essential to a democracy that they take precedence over any flimsy excuses like “security concerns” and “overcrowding of the press gallery area.”.
‘”.
“According to reports, the Federal Government removed the accreditation tags on August 18, 2023, preventing about 25 journalists and media outlets from covering events at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“.
The Vanguard newspaper, Galaxy TV, Ben TV, MITV, ITV Abuja, PromptNews, ONTV, and Liberty are among the media outlets whose journalists have reportedly been banned.
Reporters and cameramen from broadcast, print, and online media outlets are the other media personnel most impacted by the withdrawal.
“.
‘The press, radio, television, and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people,’ according to Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution.
‘”.
According to Section 14(2)(c) of the Constitution, “the people’s participation in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
‘”.
In a similar vein, every person has the right to information, according to Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Everyone has the right to voice their opinions and spread them.
‘”.
Every citizen has the right to freely participate in the government of his or her country, according to Article 13 of the Constitution. Every citizen shall be entitled to equal access to the government sector of his country.
Each person is entitled to use public facilities and services.
‘”.
Similar provisions can be found in Articles 19 and 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“.
The lawsuit’s hearing has not yet had a date set.
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