Forensic tools open new front for using phone data to prosecute journalists
On April 13, police in Russia’s Khakassiya republic arrested Mikhail Afanasyev and seized his digital devices. Afanasyev, chief editor of the online magazine Novy Fokus, was detained based on an article about riot police in southern Siberia refusing to serve in Ukraine. He faces a possible 10-year prison sentence for spreading “false” information. It’s not surprising for…
Nigerian police detain, charge two journalists for WhatsApp messages
On October 13, 2022, police officers at Ilorin, the capital of the southern Kwara State, detained Abdulrasheed Akogun with his brother Dare Akogun on criminal charges for comments they posted in a popular WhatsApp group titled “Kwara Commission,” according to a copy of the charge sheet reviewed by CPJ and Ibrahim Sheriff Gold, a Fresh…
Nigerian journalist Ayodeji Adebayo detained for 6 days over report about local politician
On September 29, 2022, two police officers arrested journalist Ayodeji Adebayo at the office of the privately owned newspaper The Nation in Wuse, a commercial hub in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, according to Adebayo, who spoke to CPJ by phone, and a report by privately owned Sahara Reporters news website. Adebayo is the publisher of the…
Nigerian journalist Agba Jalingo detained over defamation, cyberattack complaint
Abuja, August 25, 2022–Nigerian authorities should drop all investigations into publisher Agba Jalingo, compensate him for his previous unlawful detention, and stop harassing the journalist, the Committee to Protect Journalist said Thursday. On August 19, a group of about 15 police officers arrested Jalingo, publisher of the privately owned news website CrossRiverWatch, at his home…
Nigerian police arrest newspaper distributor in place of journalist in hiding
Abuja, August 19, 2022—Authorities in Nigeria should immediately drop any criminal libel investigation into journalist Ifreke Nseowo or TheMail Newspaper and pay damages to the newspaper distributor whom they illegally detained to compel Nseowo to appear for questioning, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Friday, August 12, police officers in the southern Akwa Ibom State…
Nigerian authorities fine 4 broadcasters over reporting on security issues
Abuja, August, 5, 2022 – Nigerian authorities should immediately drop the fines recently issued to four media outlets, and should ensure that the press can work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Wednesday, August 3, the National Broadcasting Commission regulator announced on its Facebook page that it had issued fines of 5…
Nigerian police arrest, briefly detain 5 staff members of Peoples Gazette in Abuja
New York, July 22, 2022 — Nigerian authorities should cease harassing employees of the Peoples Gazette and reform the country’s laws to decriminalize defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Mid-day on Friday, July 22, police arrived at the privately owned news website’s office in Abuja, the capital, and arrested assistant managing editor John…
Nigerian authorities criminally charge 2 journalists over political reporting
Abuja, July 8, 2022 – Nigerian authorities should immediately drop all charges against publisher Haruna Mohammed Salisu and reporter Idris Kamal and allow journalists to work free from legal harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On June 27, police in the city of Bauchi, the capital of northern Bauchi state, arrested and detained…
Nigeria’s Foundation for Investigative Journalism receives threatening messages
On May 15 and June 3, 2022, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), a privately owned Nigerian investigative news website, received threatening messages to the outlet’s official WhatsApp contact number from an unknown number with an Italian country code, according to a June 3 FIJ report and Damilola Ayeni, an editor with the outlet, who…
Nigerian publisher Olamilekan Hammed Adewale Bashiru granted bail with strict conditions
Abuja, June 28, 2022 – Nigerian authorities should release EagleForeSight publisher Olamilekan Hammed Adewale Bashiru and ensure that overly stringent bail conditions are not used as a tool to keep him behind bars, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On June 21, a federal high court in the Ogun state capital, Abeokuta, granted Bashiru…