We have received complaints from one of our Correspondent, Confidence Biebara of being harassed by a Nigerian Correctional Service personnel, ROWLAND OKOJIE at about 12noon on Monday, October 24, 2022 at the Rivers State Magistrate Court 10.
Ms Biebara was at the Court to witness the case involving the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO) officials who were granted bail this morning at the same court.
MR. ROWLAND OKOJIE threatened to deal with her when she alongside others took photos of the NAPO President and three other officials who posed for a photograph with their lawyer.
It is important to note that neither MR. ROWLAND OKOJIE nor any of his fellow correctional service personnel or any policeman on duty or any security personnel were captured in the said picture.
Also note that Ms. Biebara was not the only one who took the picture; in fact, she was the only Journalist among those taking the pictures. Curiously, MR. ROWLAND OKOJIE left the non-Journalists, and was threatening the only Journalist that he would deal with her.
We view MR. ROWLAND OKOJIE’s act as an affront to press freedom, a violation of the fundamental human right of our staff, and an invidious attempt at gender-based violence. His utterances are deserving of an official enquiry to ascertain what he means by his statements and also a threat to the safety and wellbeing of our Correspondent and her family.
We demand as follows:
- An official apology to our staff from the Nigerian Correctional Service for the unbecoming conduct of its personnel.
- An immediate probe within the ambit of the Code of Conduct of the Nigerian Correctional Service of the said personnel, MR. ROWLAND OKOJIE.
- That the Nigerian Correctional Service take responsibility for trauma diagnosis for our staff whose emotional wellbeing has been threatened by its personnel.
Should our demands not be met within the stipulated time space, we will leverage all legal means to seek redress for our staff.
Signed:
Boma Waribor
Chairman, NUJ Kristina Reports Chapel
Deborah Chapp-Jumbo
Secretary, NUJ Kristina Reports Chapel
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2022 PORT HARCOURT
Cc:
The Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Rivers State Council
The State Commandant, Nigerian Correctional Service
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State
The State Director of Security, Rivers State.
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Amnesty International Nigeria
Civil Society Network
BBC News Pidgin
BBC World Service
Riversstate.gov.ng
