JOURNALISTS TO FACE TRIAL FOR SEDITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001660 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL NI SUBJECT: JOURNALISTS TO FACE TRIAL FOR SEDITION REF: ABUJA 01547 Classified By: Political Counselor Russell J. Hanks for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Nigeria's State Security Service (SSS) has re-arrested Africa Independent Television (AIT) journalist Gbenga Mike Aruleba (reftel) on charges of sedition. Aruleba, along with fellow journalist Rotimi Durojaiye, is being tried under a section of the criminal code instituted in 1990 under military rule. The legal basis for the arrests is questionable, as it is unclear whether the sedition law is still in force. The defendants face two years in prison. They were denied bail during arraignment on June 27, but were granted bail of 500,000 naira (3900 USD) in a formal bail hearing attended by PolOff on June 29. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The June 29 bail hearing was conducted in two parts. During the morning session, the prosecution did not object to the defense motion for bail. Nonetheless, the presiding judge adjourned the case for about 3 hours. At 1 p.m., a packed courtroom heard the judge grant bail. Talking to PolOff after the hearing, Aruleba said that the next hearing will be July 25. Attorneys for each defendant told the media they planned to formally challenge the constitutionality of the law. ¶3. (U) Media reports support the details of reftel -- Aruleba was arrested for saying that President Obasanjo had purchased a second-hand airplane. There is no indication of how this is seditious, but reftel reports that Obasanjo had requested funds for a new plane. Media reports quote SSS as saying that by defaming the character of the president the journalists have committed sedition against the Nigerian state. ¶4. (C) On June 28, PolOff met Shuaiubu Usman Leman, National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Leman said SIPDIS that the GON in general does not respect the rights of journalists, and said this is particularly true of President Obasanjo. He said that after Obasanjo left power as a military dictator, he had a sign on his chicken farm saying, "Journalists and dogs not welcomed." Other embassy sources confirm the sign existed. Leman claimed that a number of journalists have been intimidated or physically assaulted, although these two defendants are the only ones currently facing criminal charges. He also said that journalists are routinely offered bribes for favorable stories and have threats made against their families for stories unfavorable to the GON. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: Overall the media environment in Nigeria remains vibrant: newspapers criticizing the GON are freely available and radio stations continue to air call-in shows where citizens voice their frustrations with the government. However, Leman points out that journalists in Nigeria work under great pressure and his comments provide context to the specific cases of Aruleba and Durojaiye. In the runup to the 2007 elections, the pressure on journalists seems to be increasing. It is difficult to believe that a story about a second-hand airplane merits charges of sedition under a questionable law. At a minimum, the arrests signal President Obasanjo's concern for Nigeria's image. Even worse is the possible cover of a questionable deal that could have fallout close to the President himself. In either event, these actions foster a more controlled media atmosphere for the conduct of the 2007 elections. END COMMENT. FUREY