Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over the unlawful ban and withdrawal of accreditations of 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa.
The Federal Government recently withdrew the accreditations of some 25 journalists from covering activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by retrieving their accreditation tags.
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1766/23 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking an order to direct and compel President Tinubu to reverse the revocation of the accreditations and ban 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa.
“a declaration that the withdrawal and revocation of accreditation tags and ban on the journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa without any lawful justifications is inconsistent with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, participation, and media freedom.” part of the suit reads
SERAP is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction to restrain President Tinubu or any other authority, person, or group of persons from arbitrarily and unilaterally revoking the accreditations of any journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa.
Furthermore, the suit stated that if not reversed, the arbitrary ban on the journalists from covering the Presidential Villa would open the door to other cases of arbitrariness and restrict people’s right to freedom of expression, access to information, participation, and media freedom.
The withdrawal of the accreditations of the journalists is without any lawful justification. It is inconsistent and incompatible with plurality of voices, diversity of voices, non-discrimination, and just demands of a democratic society, as well as the public interest.
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Kolawole Oluwadare, and Ms Valentina Adegoke, reads in part: “The ban on the journalists from covering the Presidential Villa fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.”
“The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and access to information – in its individual and collective aspects – in a democratic society.”
“The existence of a free, independent, vigorous, pluralistic, and diverse media is essential for the proper functioning of a democratic society.”
“The free circulation of ideas and news is not possible except in the context of a plurality of sources of information and media outlets. The lack of plurality in sources of information is a serious obstacle for the functioning of democracy.”
According to the suit, the journalists who have been banned include those from Vanguard newspaper, Galaxy TV, Ben TV, MITV, ITV Abuja, PromptNews, ONTV, and Liberty. Other media personnel affected by the withdrawal are reporters and cameramen from broadcast, print, and online media outlets.
