IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________

ACTION ALERT - NIGERIA

4 November 2004

Journalist beaten, stripped naked

SOURCE: Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Lagos

(MRA/IFEX) - On 25 October 2004, Owei Sikpi, of the "Weekly Star" newspaper,
based in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was assaulted by thugs
allegedly acting on instructions from Steven Diver, chairman of the Southern
Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.

The thugs, who were reportedly backed by anti-riot policemen, introduced
themselves as State Security Service (SSS) operatives. They then forcibly
took Sikpi to a house located at 24 Woji Road in Port Harcourt, where they
beat him until he was nearly unconscious. Thereafter, they stripped him
naked and took several photographs of him. They warned him never to write
anything against Diver again and threatened to publish the photographs of
him naked if he did.

The assault on Sikpi followed a news story written by the journalist and
published in his newspaper on 30 September, alleging that the Diver had
spent money illegally and recklessly. The report was entitled, "N700 million
fraud, weep not Southern Ijaws."

Diver, apparently angered by the publication, reportedly confronted the
journalist in Port Harcourt and asked him to retract it within a week or
"face [his] wrath." He then directed a law firm, Egbulonu and Company, to
take up the matter. The law firm wrote to the journalist demanding the
immediate retraction of the publication, which the firm claimed was
libellous, and the payment of N50 million (about US$373,000) in damages. In
the 29 September letter, the law firm warned the journalist of serious
consequences if he failed to meet Diver's demands within seven days.

Responding to the letter through a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner,
Karibi Botoye, Sikpi denied libelling Diver and asked for details of his
alleged wrongdoing. Diver, however, did not give details of the alleged
libel until the 25 October assault.

Sikpi has petitioned the Bayelsa State police commissioner, asking the
police to investigate Diver's actions and to bring the culprits to justice.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
- calling on them to investigate the assault on Sikpi, as well as the
dehumanising treatment he suffered
- asking them to ensure that those responsible for the attack are brought to
justice and punished
- asking them to ensure that Sikpi is compensated for the violation of his
rights

APPEALS TO:

Chief Akinlolu Olujimi (SAN)
Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice
Attorney General's Chambers
Federal Secretariat Complex
10th Floor, Shehu Shagari Way
P. M. B. 192
Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: +234 9523 5194
Fax: +234 9523 5208

Tafa Balogun
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

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.internews.org/mra

The information contained in this action alert is the sole responsibility of
MRA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
MRA.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Suite 403, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: [email protected] general e-mail: [email protected]x.org
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________