IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ACTION ALERT - NIGERIA

27 January 2005

Newspaper publisher arrested over report on police commissioner

SOURCE: Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Lagos

(MRA/IFEX) - On 19 January 2005, the Rivers State Police Command arrested
Jerry Needam, publisher of the Port Harcourt-based weekly tabloid "National
Network", for publishing reports considered negative to Rivers State Police
Commissioner Sylvester Araba.

A team of police officers picked up Needam, publisher of the newly
established newspaper, on the morning of 19 January as he arrived at his
office in Port Harcourt. Needam is also a former special assistant to the
Rivers State information commissioner.

Although the police did not provide formal reasons for his arrest, reports
quoted a senior police officer as saying that the command was angered by a
report in the newspaper portraying the commission in a bad light.

Needam and Araba had returned from Israel the week of 10 January Their trip
was sponsored by the Rivers State government for the annual pilgrimage to
the holy land. On his return, Needam published a story on the front page of
his newspaper reporting that the police commissioner "slumped while climbing
Mount Sinai." The newspaper described Araba's collapse as "mysterious" since
he had been certified as fit by doctors before embarking on the journey. The
newspaper also reported that a senior Rivers State Government House official
also collapsed in Jerusalem, while many others engaged in amorous acts in
the holy land.

Prior to Needam's arrest, the newspaper had run a promotion promising to
publish "dirty deals" embarked upon by government officials while in Israel
in the next edition.

Needam's whereabouts are unknown.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
- calling on them to release Needam immediately and unconditionally
- urging them to respect the right of journalists to practice their
profession freely
- noting that the intimidation and harassment of journalists violates the
right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999
Nigerian Constitution, as well as international human rights instruments to
which Nigeria is a signatory, and undermines the spirit of Nigeria's
democratic process

APPEALS TO:

Sunday Ehindero
Acting Inspector General of Police
Force Headquarters
Louis Edet House
Shehu Shagari Way
Area 11 Garki
Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: +234 9 234 0633 / 234 0422
Fax: +234 9 234 0422

Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu
Hon. Minister for Information and National Orientation
Federal Ministry of Information
Radio House Garki
Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: +234 9 234 6350
Mobile: +234 80 3303 0302

Chief Akinlolu Olujimi, SAN
Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice
Federal Secretariat Complex
Garki
Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: +234 9 523 5194
Fax: +234 9 523 5208

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information, contact Ayode Longe, Media Rights Agenda, 10
Agboola Aina Street, off Amore Street, Ikeja, P.O. Box 52113, Ikoyi, Lagos,
Nigeria, tel: +234 1 493 6033, fax: +234 1 493 0831, e-mail:
[email protected], Internet: http://www.mediarightsagenda.org

The information contained in this action alert is the sole responsibility of
MRA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
MRA.
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