The Federal Government has expressed delight that Nigeria is
“no longer among countries with impunity for crimes against journalists.”
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice, AGF Abubakar Malami, made this known at an event tagged; “Policy
Dialogue on Protection of Journalists in commemoration of the 2021
International Day to end impunity for crimes against Journalists in Nigeria”,
organised by Federal Ministry of Justice with the support from the Managing
Conflict in Nigeria program of the British Council, held in Abuja on Tuesday.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Mercy Omoyajowo,
for the Deputy Director, Ministry of Information and Culture.
The statement quoted Malami as saying, “In the last decade,
before the advent of the present Administration, Nigeria ranked between 12th
and 13th across the globe and used to be among top three African countries with
impunity for crimes against journalists only after Somalia and South Sudan.
Recent developments in Nigeria proved that the Federal Government has laudable
initiatives to end impunity for crimes against Nigerian citizens.
“This is another positive feather of development in the
human right record of the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR that
calls for celebration. It is a re-enactment of the best practices in the
conduct of the governance which characterizes the administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.”
He said the Federal Government recognises the role of
journalists in any democratic setting, adding that they render essential
service of the watchdog function as well as holding the government accountable.
“The provision of
section 22 of the 1999 constitution as amended of Federal Republic of Nigeria
underscores this fact. It provides: the press, radio, television and other
agencies of the mass media to, at all time, be free to uphold the
responsibility and accountability of the government to the people,” the AGF
said.
Malami attributed the achievement recorded to the deliberate
and committed efforts of the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu
Buhari (retd.), through the implementation of many reforms in the Nigerian
justice sector.
He listed the achievements to include increased access to
justice, speedy justice dispensation, decongestion of Nigeria’s correctional
centres and judicious implementation of the Criminal Justice Act and Justice
Sector reforms.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken steps in
advancing the rule of law, application of human rights, enhancing the freedom
of information and by implication freedom of the press as well as the
administration of criminal justice. In addition to the implementation of the
Freedom of Information Act, prominent among recent legislations by the present
administration included Public Interest Disclosure and Witness Protection Bill
(2017), Whistle Blower Protection Policy, Open Government Partnership and the
vigorous fight against corruption. In each of these legislations and policies
the media and by implications journalists remain critical stakeholders,“ he
said.
“As the Chief-Law Officer of the Country, the office of the
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is determined to
uphold the constitutionally saddled responsibility of ensuring strict adherence
to the rule of law and bringing to an end the issue of impunity for crime in
all ramifications. Our records on P&ID case is a clear testimony to that
fact. Hence, the need for the consolidation of the successes recorded and that
no room is left in retardation or retrogression.”
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No impunity for the poor and the masses. A common scenario of an someone who stole due to hunger (indomie thieves) being jailed for two 6 months - 3 years, while the law never get to punish the big civil servants and politician thieves. I guess he meant no impunity, but those people are are above the law do not get prosecuted for stealing, embezzlement or any other act of corruption.
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