- Adejobi denied that journalists have been unfairly targeted over the past year
On Thursday, the Nigeria Police Force stated it can use laws beyond the Cyber Crime Act to prosecute journalists.
Police Spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, speaking at a joint briefing by the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja, warned journalists against defamation.
Adejobi denied that journalists have been unfairly targeted over the past year, responding to claims that the police are using the amended Cyber Crime Act of 2024 to silence the press.
Reports indicate more journalists have been arrested and detained under President Bola Tinubu’s administration than under his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Adejobi refuted these claims, asserting the police are not targeting or oppressing the press.
He said, “It’s not true that we are applying cyber crime act to witch-hunt or oppress you or to subvert press freedom in Nigeria.
“I am not saying you should not be a whistleblower but if you want to be one, you must get your facts right.
“Defamation of character is a law defined under the Cybercrime Act and the criminal acts of this country define defamation as an offence. If somebody has published something wrong against you, as a Nigerian you have the right to take it up.
“As a trained police officer, I may decide not to use the cybercrime act to prosecute you. As a trained policeman I must be able to lay my hands on many laws to nail you if I want to.
“Forget the fact that the NSA has called for the full implementation of the act, the police can lay their hands on any law to prosecute anybody.”
Muyiwa noted that journalists do not enjoy immunity as they are “criminally liable” once accused of a crime.
He added, “Mind you, the fact that somebody is a journalist does not grant him immunity over certain things.
“Let me put it on record that if a petition has been written against you, as a certified journalist is to honour the invitation and get across to the office of the Force spokesperson.
“Some of them you claimed have been victimized have not contacted me. Everybody is a journalist, we practise citizen journalism in Nigeria.
“The fact is the police have not arrested anyone from the mainstream media. Most of these bloggers are always running foul of the law because they want to break the law.
“You can’t break the news without confirmation from the parties involved. You need to balance your report. Once you are invited to come and clarify a report, don’t run away. We are human beings like you.”
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