Courtrooms as extensions of newsrooms in Nigeria

By Amos Aar

The courtroom is fast becoming an extension of the newsroom for many Nigerian journalists. Instead of merely reporting judicial proceedings, reporters increasingly find themselves standing in the dock, answering criminal charges over stories written in the public interest.

Across Nigeria, arrests, detentions, prosecutions and open intimidation have given rise to concerns about the state of press freedom in Africa’s largest democracy.

In Benue State, the prosecution of Henry Ibya, the state Correspondent of Aljazirah Newspaper, has become a defining example of this troubling trend.

Ibya had in 2025 reported alleged irregularities surrounding the student payment portal at Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, detailing repeated breakdowns and suggesting that the institution may have lost substantial funds through questionable processes.

His report also indicated that some top officials were asked to step aside to allow investigations to proceed without interference.

Rather than the allegations forming the centre of accountability, the journalist became the focus of legal action. Following a complaint by the institution’s Director of ICT, Mr Terna Abuul, the police arrested Ibya in April 2025 and charged him with alleged cyberstalking and defamation. He was remanded at the Makurdi Correctional Facility before later perfecting bail.

The matter began at the Chief Magistrate Court and was subsequently transferred to the High Court. When the case came before the trial judge recently, the court encouraged dialogue between the parties, noting that the dispute appeared more civil than criminal in nature. The trial has been adjourned to April 15, 2026.

Emerging reports suggest that the university conducted internal investigations and sanctioned certain officials linked to the financial systems under scrutiny. If indeed administrative actions were taken, many observers argue that the continued prosecution of the journalist raises difficult questions.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists Benue State Council, at its State Executive Council meeting presided over by Chairman Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, on Wednesday February 25, 2026, frowned at the sustained trial of Ibya despite indications that his publication reflected factual developments.

The union resolved to take necessary measures to secure his freedom, describing the development as a disturbing signal to journalists performing their constitutional duty.

The pressure on journalists in Benue has not been limited to the courtroom. Pius Angbo, a correspondent with Channels Television, reportedly faced harassment from the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Berger Alfred Emberga, after covering alleged parallel congresses of the All Progressives Congress in the State.

The report, which focused on factional disputes within the ruling party, was said to have triggered anger from political actors who felt dissatisfied with the coverage. The incident reinforced concerns that political sensitivities are increasingly translating into hostility against journalists.

Beyond Benue, national and international press freedom monitors have documented similar patterns. The Committee to Protect Journalists has repeatedly expressed concern over the continued use of the Cybercrimes Act to detain and prosecute journalists, even after amendments were introduced to address abuses.

Investigative journalist Segun Olatunji was detained in 2024 following a report on alleged corruption involving senior security officials.

In another instance, reporter Fejiro Oliver was arrested and detained over allegations connected to his investigative work before later regaining freedom.

Several other journalists across different states have faced questioning, temporary detention, or threats for stories that exposed corruption, political infighting, or security lapses.

The corolary in these cases, is the reliance on criminal provisions, particularly cybercrime and defamation laws, to pursue disputes that critics argue should ordinarily be addressed through civil remedies or right-of-reply mechanisms.

Media advocates express worries that such prosecutions create a negative effect, discouraging investigative reporting and weakening democratic accountability.

When journalists fear arrest for publishing uncomfortable truths, self-censorship becomes a survival strategy.

Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and of the press. These protections are intended to ensure that citizens are informed about the conduct of public institutions and officials.

But when journalists are arrested or harassed for exposing alleged mismanagement or reporting political developments, it is not only a professional community that feels the impact; the public’s right to know is also undermined.

The ongoing prosecution of Henry Ibya, the reported harassment of Pius Angbo, and the string of similar cases nationwide point to a pressing national conversation.

Similarly, during the administration of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, several journalists reportedly faced arrest, prosecution or prolonged legal battles linked to their reportage.

One of the most prominent cases involved Luka Binniyat, a Kaduna-based correspondent who was arrested and charged under cybercrime provisions over reports on insecurity in Southern Kaduna.

Rights groups and media advocates at the time described his prosecution as an attempt to criminalise critical reporting, especially on sensitive security matters. Although he was later granted bail, the case drew national and international attention to the shrinking civic space in the state.

Another case frequently cited by press freedom organisations involved Danladi Ndayebo, a former chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Kaduna, who was reportedly detained and questioned over an opinion article critical of the state government.

Earlier, activist and media entrepreneur Audu Maikori was also arrested in connection with social media posts concerning killings in Southern Kaduna, an action that generated serious condemnation.

Though some of these cases were eventually withdrawn or resolved, it has been argued that the arrests and prosecutions created a climate of fear, leaving lingering concerns about the vulnerability of journalists who report on governance and security issues.

In a democracy that relies on transparency and accountability, the question is no longer whether journalists are under pressure.

The deeper question is whether truth telling is gradually being reframed as an offence, and whether institutions entrusted with upholding justice will ultimately protect the freedom that makes journalism possible.