To: IFEX Autolist (other news of interest)
From: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), [email protected]

PRESS FREEDOM

30 January 2004

NIGERIA

Nine state radio journalists suspended over coverage of opposition demo

Reporters Without Borders today called on a public service radio corporation
in the state of Ondo, in southwestern Nigeria, to reinstate nine journalists
who were suspended indefinitely on 21 January at the governor's behest
because of their coverage of an opposition protest about an increase in the
prices of petroleum products.

The Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC) claimed that the decision to
suspend the journalists was taken internally, by the corporation's
management, because they dedicated too much air-time to the protest by the
opposition Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

"But according to our information, state governor Olusegun Agagu was behind
the suspension of these journalists, because he did not appreciate their
giving so much importance to an event organised by an opposition party to
protest against an official measure," Reporters Without Borders said.

The nine OSRC employees who have been suspended are news director Seinde
Omokoba, deputy news director Sanya Adeleye, and seven other journalists:
Taiwo Fagbuyi, Akinwale Oshodi, Franklin Olaleye, Daisi Ajayi, Remi
Olagookun, Daiso Ifaleyimu and Bola Akinrunjomu.

--
Bureau Afrique / Africa desk
Reporters sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders
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75009 Paris - France
Tel : (33) 1 44 83 84 84
Fax : (33) 1 45 23 11 51
[email protected] / [email protected]
www.rsf.org

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