The International Press Centre, IPC, has told Nigeria’s State Security Services, SSS, that it has no constitutional right to regulate media coverage of leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu or any person in that matter.
The Services, during the trial of Kanu on Monday, accredited 10 newspapers including Daily Post, Premium Times, Thisday, The Nation, The Herald, Daily Independent, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Channels Television, Africa Independent Television and Television Continental (TVC) to cover the trial.
But the Centre, in its reaction via a statement by the Program Officer, Melody Lawal, said the Service’s accreditation of 10 media organisations to cover the trial, was unconstitutional.
“IPC is of the firm opinion that the Department of State Service (DSS) has no constitutional right to accredit journalists to cover the trial of Nnamdi Kanu or any other suspect for that matter based on the provisions of the National Security Agencies Act.
“We are amazed and concerned about this development which has no precedent anywhere in the world.
“The trial of Nnamdi Kanu is a matter of public interest and accrediting some media outlets to cover it violates press freedom and the right of the public to know,” the statement reads.
