News
Free press in Nigeria under life support – Prof Otiono
Free press in Nigeria under life support – Prof Otiono

By Patrick Egwu
An associate professor at the Institute of African Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, Professor Nduka Otiono, has said that free press is on trial and life support under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration
Professor Otiono made this remark as keynote speaker during the inaugural Jacksonites Professional Development Series, organized by the alumni association of the Mass Communication Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka titled “A “Captured” Media in an Insecure Nation: Democracy, Hate Speech, and Free Speech on Trial?”
He, however, added that while the media appeared captured, attempts to arrest or cage the media would not be successful. “While the media space can be repressed and suppressed, it cannot be captured. It would only undergo a mechanism to deal with government censorship,” he said, adding that the country’s media remains one of the most vigorous and resilient in the world despite increasing attacks.
Otiono acknowledged that fake news or misinformation and hate speech which have been widely aided by social media, have played a role in the government’s move to capture the Nigerian media which include proposed bills by the National Assembly to gag and regulate social media.
”There have been growing attacks on free press in Nigeria. In early July, all Nigerian national daily newspapers protested a legislation being proposed by the National Assembly that would allow authorities to control the press with a front page titled ‘Information Blackout’ as a way of condemning the move and calling for support from media advocates and activists.
Lawmakers have denied any move to gag the press but said the bills are intended to curb fake news and hate speech. Activists, however, disagreed and said the bills, if passed into law, would give authorities the power to punish journalists and media outlets with fines and prison sentences.
President Buhari has toughened his stance on the media and civic space since his re-election for a second term in 2019. In June, the government banned Twitter in Nigeria for censoring a tweet made by the account of President Buhari which Twitter said violated its rules. The ban is yet to be reversed and activists say there have been increasing moves to regulate social media which has empowered citizens to express their opinions. Journalists have been attacked and arrested while media organizations have been raided by security forces loyal to the government.
Professor Otiono further noted that “Increasing agitation for the restructuring of the federation and concern over widening insecurity have become the gasoline inflaming mass movements, hate speech and repressive assault on fundamental human rights, including free speech as enshrined in the various local and universal charter.”
Professor Chinedu Mba who is a college professor at Algonquin College, Ottawa, Canada and chair of the steering committee of the lecture series, said the theme of the lecture is very topical, timely and “a first step in meeting the mission and vision of the series” which is to promote the personal and professional development of Jacksonites, communication students, professionals, and allied sectors, adding that the lecture would happen quarterly in collaboration with practitioners in the field to help facilitate the continuous growth in the profession.
According to Mba, the next series is slated for November and details would be announced soon.
The lecture had in attendance Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to President Buhari on media and publicity; Professor Pat Utomi, founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership and chairman of the Jacksonite Alumni Global Network, Professor Charles Okigbo of North Dakota University among other professionals and media executives.
News
OYC Warns ICPC Chairman Against Alleged Bias in Uche Nnaji Case

The Apex sociocultural youth organization of the Igbo race worldwide, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), has described the current arrest made by the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offence (ICPC) against former Minister of Science and Technology and the 2027 People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Enugu State, Hon. Uche Nnaji, regarding his certificate, as a deliberate political witch-hunt orchestrated by the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Gov. Peter Mbah.
In a press address in Enugu on Wednesday, 8th July 2026, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), called on Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to maintain the commission’s ethical standards, threatening to seek his removal if evidence confirms the alleged bias of ICPC in favor of Governor Peter Mbah against Hon. Uche Nnaji regarding the 2027 Guber election.
*The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) revealed that the fight against Hon. Uche Nnaji is a battle for the Enugu Governorship and the “Lions Building Seat” in 2027, and dismissed the certificate forgery allegations against Uche Nnaji as a political distraction and blackmail.*
The surreptitious entry into the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to obtain a court order detaining Hon Uche Nnaji is a teleguided executive overreach attributed to Gov Peter Mbah apparently aimed at silencing Hon Uche Nnaji, which is highly censurable.
The Council stated that “A court of competent jurisdiction is presently handling the unsubstantiated certificate forgery case, and the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Hon Uche Nnaji have opted for an out-of-court settlement, following recent findings of misinformation.
Therefore, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), should maintain a neutral stance regarding the Enugu State Governorship battle to preserve his reputation built through his legal career and public service, and avoid being perceived as succumbing to Governor Peter Mbah’s alleged attempts to utilize executive power to blackmail and witch-hunt Hon. Uche Nnaji.
The Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) warned Governor Peter Mbah to concentrate on fulfilling his unfulfilled campaign promises to Enugu State rather than chasing Hon Uche Nnaji through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
News
Governor Mbah’s Compassionate Gesture Brings Relief to Enugu Fire Victims
Families displaced by the recent fire outbreak in the Asata area of Enugu have received immediate relief from the Enugu State Government following the intervention of Governor Peter Mbah, who directed that palliative support be provided to ease their suffering.
Chairman of the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA), Chinasa Mbah, disclosed that the agency promptly delivered the relief materials in compliance with the governor’s directive.
“We have given them some palliative as directed by His Excellency. Our report has equally gone in, and we await further instructions,” Mbah said.
She explained that ESEMA has completed its assessment of the incident and submitted its recommendations to the state government, adding that additional assistance for the affected families will depend on the governor’s approval of the agency’s report.
The swift response underscores Governor Mbah’s commitment to standing with citizens in times of distress. The victims, whose homes and belongings were destroyed in the fire that gutted two flats in a two-storey building on Church Road, Asata, are expected to receive further support as the government considers ESEMA’s recommendations.
News
Questions Persist As Almajiri Commissions Attempts to Defend Projects Outside Its Mandate
The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) has defended the inclusion of projects outside its statutory mandate in the 2026 budget, insisting they are National Assembly constituency projects assigned to the commission for implementation.
However, the explanation has done little to quell public scrutiny, with critics questioning why a commission established to tackle the Almajiri system and out-of-school children—challenges largely concentrated in Northern Nigeria—is overseeing projects reportedly located in parts of the South-West.
The controversy has also been fuelled by concerns over the scale of the allocations, as the value of the disputed constituency projects is said to far exceed the funds earmarked for the commission’s core education programmes.
Responding to the criticism in a statement issued on Monday, the commission’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Nura Muhammad, said the projects were included in the 2026 Appropriation Act under the long-standing practice of assigning constituency projects to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for execution.
According to the commission, once such projects are approved in the federal budget and allocated to an agency, they become part of its implementation responsibilities.
“As part of a duly enacted federal budget, every project assigned to the commission forms part of its implementation responsibilities and will be executed in strict compliance with extant laws, financial regulations and due procurement processes,” the statement said.
NCAOOSCE maintained that the inclusion of the projects does not alter its statutory mandate, stressing that it remains focused on addressing the Almajiri system and reducing the number of out-of-school children across Nigeria.
The commission cited its achievements, including the profiling of more than 700,000 out-of-school children, the establishment of 119 learning centres, ward-to-ward advocacy campaigns, and the implementation of the National Policy on Almajiri Education, as evidence of its commitment to its core responsibilities.
This version attributes the concerns to critics and public scrutiny rather than stating them as established facts.
News
Police Inspector Dies in Alleged Police Convoy Accident in Enugu
A Police Inspector, Dr. Obodo Paul Ikechukwu, has reportedly died after he was involved in a fatal road accident allegedly involving a police convoy in Enugu State.
The deceased, who hailed from Nkpologu in Enugu State, was serving in the Operations Department of the Enugu State Police Headquarters at the time of the incident.
Details surrounding the circumstances of the accident remain unclear, but sources said the inspector was fatally injured after being struck by a vehicle in a police convoy.
Dr. Obodo, who was also a PhD holder, was described by colleagues and associates as a dedicated officer whose death has come as a shock to members of the police command and his community.
As of the time of filing this report, the Enugu State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident, while further details are being awaited.
News
Mbaka Offers Prayers, Endorses Mbah’s Leadership Ahead of Election (See Video)
The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, , has offered prayers for , praying for God’s favour, protection, and victory as the state approaches the coming elections.
Speaking during a church gathering, Mbaka declared that Governor Mbah would succeed, expressing confidence that God, whom he said had begun a great work through the governor, would bring it to completion.
“It shall be well with Peter Mbah; may the favour of God be with him. We back him with our prayers. The Adoration family throws our prayers around him, that he will succeed, in the name of Jesus. May God grant him the power of victory at the end of the whole election,” Mbaka said.
The cleric further expressed hope that Mbah’s leadership would bring joy to the Igbo people, the people of Enugu State, and the Church, adding that the Igbo economy could witness greater advancement under his administration.
According to Mbaka, the progress recorded so far gives hope that greater achievements lie ahead, stressing that God would perfect the work already begun.
His remarks come as political activities continue to gather momentum ahead of the forthcoming elections.
-
Crime4 days agoEnugu Forest Guard Rescues Kidnap Victim, Arrests Native Doctor, Others in Intelligence-Led Operation
-
News3 days agoFamilies Homeless as Fire Razes Two-Storey Building in Enugu (Video)
-
News4 days ago9 countries making relocation easier for Nigerians as US, UK tighten up
-
Politics4 days agoAPC faces backlash over revised National Assembly candidate list
-
Politics4 days agoAnambra APC Crisis Deepens as Anosike Group Warns Against Secretariat Takeover by Rival Faction
-
Politics3 days agoAnambra APC Crisis: 18 LG Chairmen, 22 Exco Members, 28 Aspirants Shun Osegbo Meeting, Reaffirm Loyalty to Anosike
-
Sports3 days agoTen-man England survive Mexico comeback to reach quarter-finals
-
News3 days agoMan Missing Since 2007 Found Alive After Spending 18 Years in Prison Without Trial
