Ezimakor vs DSS: NUJ, Other Nigerians Demand his Release
The Nigeria Union of Journalists has called on the Department of State Security to unconditional release Mr. Tony Ezimakor, the Abuja Bureau Chief of The Independent Newspapers. He has been in the custody of the Department for four days.
The NUJ and other well-meaning stakeholders had earlier engaged some highly placed Government officials to secure the release of this Journalist who is suffering from hypertension but to no avail.
NUJ in a statement signed by Shuaibu Usman Leman, the National Secretary, said, “We are worried that his health will continue to deteriorate under the condition that he is being held.”
“We insist that the Authorities must immediately release Tony Ezimakor and permit Journalists to operate without fear of arrest. The Muhammadu Buhari Government should seize the opportunity to end such blatant attempts to intimidate journalists and make press freedom a priority for the administration.”
The FCT Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJFCT) has also demanded the immediate release of Mr. Tony Ezimakor from the Department of State Service (DSS), saying he should be unconditionally released or charged to court if there is allegation against him.
The Council in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Paul Ella Abechi and Rafat Salami respectively, maintained that the detention violates the journalist’s fundamental human rights and constitutional provisions affirming it.
“The detention of Tony Ezimakor by the DSS since February 28, is unconstitutional and unjustifiable. The DSS should release him forthwith or charge him to court if it has any case against him”.
The Union further frowned at what it termed ‘intimidation and harassment of journalists by the DSS and other security agencies’, noting that the action of the DSS and other security agencies of the Federal Government in this wise is aimed to stifle Freedom of Expression, and violate provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
It, therefore, urges the Federal Government to refrain from such undemocratic activities.
“As activities gain momentum towards the 2019 General Elections, the NUJ is alarmed by the body language, utterances and actions of DSS and other security agencies all aimed at obstructing section 22 of the 1999 Constitution and infringing upon the fundamental human rights of journalists in the country.”
“The DSS and other agencies of the Federal Government should desist forthwith from further harassment and intimidation of journalists in the course of their constitutional assignments” the union said.
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