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Justification for Including Three Individuals in the IPI Nigeria Book of Infamy
Today, we are compelled to add three Nigerian public officials to the IPI Nigeria Book of Infamy. Their actions represent serious violations of press freedom and democratic norms, making them the first set of individuals to earn a place in this accountability record.
Below are the officials and the grounds for their inclusion:
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Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State
On 1 August 2025, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago ordered the closure of Badegi 90.1 FM, an independent radio station in Minna. Speaking at a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he directed the Commissioner for Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Police to seal the station and to profile its owner simply for being critical of his administration. The station was forcibly shut the next day.
On 3 August, IPI Nigeria issued a strongly worded statement condemning this unlawful action and demanding the immediate and unconditional reopening of Badegi FM. We also highlighted earlier troubling incidents revealing a pattern of repression under Governor Bago:
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• In January 2025, Yakubu Mustapha, Niger State correspondent for Peoples Daily and Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel (NUJ), was detained for three days after circulating an article critical of the governor’s media aide.
• In November 2023, Mustapha Nasiru Batsari, Niger State correspondent for the Voice of America, was reportedly assaulted by a commissioner in Mr Bago’s cabinet after requesting an interview on a deadly farmers’ clash in Beji, Bosso LGA.
IPI Nigeria reminded the governor that his actions constitute a blatant abuse of power and violate Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantee freedom of expression, press freedom, and the right to information.
Although Badegi FM was later reopened following nationwide condemnation, the harassment of the station continued. On 3 November, IPI Nigeria wrote directly to the governor demanding an immediate halt to all forms of intimidation against the station. To date, he has neither responded nor complied. His administration has instead persisted in hostile actions against the broadcaster.
Governor Bago’s conduct is undemocratic, unconstitutional, and unacceptable. For these reasons, he is hereby listed in the IPI Nigeria Book of Infamy.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun
On 26 August 2025, IPI Nigeria condemned the arrest, detention, and sustained harassment of Azuka Ogujiuba, publisher of Media Room Hub and former journalist with ThisDay, by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
Ms Ogujiuba was targeted for performing her professional duty of reporting on a land dispute before the courts. Instead of respecting her constitutional right to press freedom, the police deployed intimidation: unlawful detention, repeated summons to Abuja despite her residing in Lagos, and two separate arrests.
Such heavy-handed misconduct is designed to silence a journalist and is incompatible with Nigeria’s obligations under both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
At the time, IPI Nigeria called on Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun to intervene, halt the harassment, and issue clear directives to protect journalists nationwide. We reminded him that journalists must be allowed to report on matters of public interest without fear of arrest or reprisal.
The situation, however, worsened under his watch. Since Ms Ogujiuba’s case, more journalists have been unlawfully detained or assaulted by police commands across the country, including:
• Abdulaziz Aliyu of Waraka Online TV (Kano State Police Command)
• Nasir Yelwa, Nigerian correspondent for the Iranian News Agency, while covering protests in Abuja (FCT Command)
• Sodeeq Atanda of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (Ekiti State Police Command)
On 30 September, IPI Nigeria formally wrote to the Inspector-General, urging concrete action to halt this pattern of abuse and ensure police compliance with constitutional guarantees.
He has yet to respond. Nor has he taken visible corrective steps. Under his leadership, a culture of impunity has flourished in police interactions with journalists.
For failing to uphold his constitutional duties and allowing systematic media repression, Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun is hereby listed in the IPI Nigeria Book of Infamy.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State
On 24 May 2025, the Akwa Ibom State Government expelled Christopher Moffat and Kufre Ikpe of Channels Television from the Government House Press Centre. The reporters were barred from covering state activities after exposing an undemocratic remark by Governor Umo Eno—an incident the administration sought to conceal.
IPI Nigeria immediately condemned the action and demanded their reinstatement. Seven months later, the journalists remain banned.
During this period, IPI engaged the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, and the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh, but no corrective action was taken. On 25 September, we wrote formally to Governor Eno demanding immediate redress or risk inclusion in the Book of Infamy. The letter, delivered on 2 October, was ignored.
The continued exclusion of Channels Television reporters constitutes a direct assault on press freedom and violates constitutional guarantees under Sections 22 and 39.
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For refusing to reverse his administration’s repressive actions and for perpetuating a climate hostile to journalists, Governor Umo Eno is hereby listed in the IPI Nigeria Book of Infamy.
Conclusion
IPI Nigeria maintains that public officials who abuse power to intimidate or silence the press must be held accountable. The inclusion of these three officials in the Book of Infamy signals our unwavering commitment to defending press freedom and ensuring that constitutional violations do not go unanswered.
BY THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS INSTITUTE
