The Nigeria Union of Journalists has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to exercise restraint and not go on with threat to seal off premises of The Sun newspaper following court judgement that assets of former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, should be confiscated.
In a statement by its National Secretary, Shuaibu Usman Leman Walin Shadalafiya, the NUJ said it was worried by recent developments at The Sun newspaper where the anti-graft agency had given notice to staff of the newspaper to vacate the premises and allow for takeover by EFCC.
The statement said any attempt to make journalists lose their job would not be good for democracy and appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to hold back its decision until the determination of the appeal filed against the judgment by the court.
The NUJ said: “While we appreciate the efforts of EFCC at fighting corruption in the country, we hasten to caution that any attempt to throw journalists out of work for whatever reason in such a hasty manner is not good for democracy. The media as pivots to good governance and democracy must be allowed to flourish unhindered. We therefore urge for restraint in this regard to allow for the appeal filed to be determined first before any decision is taken.”
It said “moving hurriedly” to seal off the premises of The Sun newspaper could be seen as politically motivated, saying that decision to seal off the premises should not be taken without consideration for the country’s “vibrant and virile journalism” at a time the profession was facing challenges in the country.
The NUJ said the anti-graft agency should be wary before it takes its decisions saying “we need to preserve the job of the media workers in The Sun newspapers by being circumspect and prudent in this respect”.
