Abuja | Thursday
THE Nigerian government warned on Wednesday it will prosecute foreign journalists who publish “malicious falsehood” about the country following a report in US news magazine Time linking the government with corruption.
Last week’s issue of Time reported that Information Minister Jerry Gana called a meeting with foreign journalists in the capital, Abuja, in February to complain about aspects of US network CNN’s coverage of riots in the city of Lagos.
At the end of the meeting journalists from Lagos were given a pack of information which included an envelope containing 50 000 naira ($430) nestled inside.
The AFP bureau in Nigeria was represented at the meeting by a correspondent based in Abuja who did not receive the pack containing the envelope.
Most other foreign media organisations attending told AFP they did receive the pack but returned the money.
Justice Minister Kanu Agabi, standing alongside Gana, told reporters in Abuja that an inquiry following the publication of the Time report had found the suggestion that this money was given in an attempt to influence the journalists’ coverage was false.
The money was given to cover transport expenses to and from Lagos, the ministry claimed.
“It is a criminal offence to publish such malicious falsehood. I hope that henceforth the police will investigate such publications and take steps to have their authors prosecuted and punished,” Agabi told Nigerian reporters.
“I want to assure you the next time anybody comes here and publishes falsehood about our country, we will submit him to the due process of law so that if there is need for him to go to prison, he can go to prison.
“Those foreign journalists who come here and publish falsehood about Nigeria don’t do the same about their own country … The time has come for our country to punish with determination those who insult us with lies and falsehood,” Agabi said.
Lawyers said it was not clear under which legislation the minister planned to prosecute foreign journalists nor whether the legislation would be intended to cover only foreign journalists.
The government has become increasingly sensitive about coverage in the foreign media in recent months, and in the run up to elections due in 2003. – AFP