The alleged threat and harassment of a journalist by a former minister for investigating and writing story on alleged illegal dredging by his oil company has attracted the attention of NOPRIN, Senior Correspondent ONYEWUCHI OJINNAKA writes.
Journalism, like many other vocations, is risky. Investigative journalism is riskier. It gets worse when the subject of investigation is a highly-placed public official, most of who are regarded as sacred cows in this clime.
A freelance journalist, Augustina Armstrong-Ogbonna, was investigating a former Minister of Interior and oil magnet, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, whose company, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, was allegedly involved in illegal dredging activities on his property bordering Irede community in Lagos State. This, according to reports, made the politician to resort to threats and harassment of the newshound.
Consequently, a non-governmental organisation, Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), committed to promoting police accountability and respect for human rights, has demanded an immediate end to alleged continuous threat, harassment and intimidation of Armstrong-Ogbonna.
National Coordinator of NOPRIN, Okechukwu Nwanguma, in a statement made available to TheNiche, charged the security authorities to ensure immediate end to the manhunt on the journalist, her protection and the targeted Irede Community members.
According to Nwanguma, Capt. Iheanacho was threatening Armstrong-Ogbonna and has instigated a security manhunt on her for investigating and reporting the illegal dredging activities by his oil company.
According to reports, the dredging activities by the oil company began to cause environmental damage in the community and their outcry caught the attention of the journalist who commenced investigation immediately to ascertain the legality of the dredging activity.
It was said that in the course of her investigation, she discovered that Iheanacho’s company failed to carry out the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before commencing the dredging activities; that the activities were causing erosion and crack on buildings and other cement structures. From TheNiche checks, this is a revelation that Capt. Iheanacho was not happy about.
Armstrong-Ogbonna reportedly sought the views of Iheanacho during her investigation, and during the interview, the latter had allegedly warned her to back off and accused her of being used by undisclosed enemies to blackmail him in order to extract some money from him. He allegedly threatened that the reporter would be putting herself on the firing line if she continued to investigate and report the story.
In the same vein, NOPRIN sought an end to the police harassment and frivolous prosecution of the community’s advocate, Onoriobe Raymond Gold, who was arrested for raising the alarm on the effect of the dredging activities of Iheanacho’s company and for leading a campaign to ensure the protection of the environment. He has been subjected to police harassment and intimidation and currently facing frivolous charges before a magistrate court in Apapa, Lagos.
“This is nothing more than an attempt to intimidate him,” Nwanguma stated.
“The continuing unwarranted and unjustified threat and security manhunt on Armstrong-Ogbonna and harassment of the community leader have implications for their personal safety, the community’s environmental integrity and for press freedom.
“The obviously biased and unprofessional role played by the police is condemnable.
“NOPRIN hereby calls on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to call the Commander of Area ‘L’ of the Lagos State Police Command to order, for his despicable role in offering himself as a willing tool in the hands of a powerful citizen to victimise a poor community leader for his courageous role in defending the interest of his community members.”
He urged the police and other security agencies to henceforth desist from their manhunt on Armstrong-Ogbonna who has not committed any offence, but has only discharged her social role as a journalist.
The organisation also called on the State Security Services (SSS) to desist from further harassment of Armstrong-Ogbonna.
When TheNiche spoke to Armstrong-Ogbonna on the phone, she affirmed the statement of NOPRIN, while the Irede community leader, Raymond Gold, said that it would be subjudice to speak on the issue because the matter was already before a magistrate court.
Efforts to reach the Area ‘L’ Commander was abortive, as his phone was switched off at press time.
