Attacks on the Press in 1998 - Nigeria

As of December 31, 1998

For Nigeria's besieged independent journalists, the death of military dictator Gen. Sani Abacha on June 8 saved some lives among their ranks. However, the July 7 death in prison of Moshood Abiola, the putative winner of the 1993 democratic elections, dashed their hopes for true democracy and press freedom in the near future.

Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, a senior career soldier who was virtually unknown outside of military circles, emerged as Abacha's successor. The country's watchdog press dug in their heels to face off with yet another dictator, and immediately exposed Abubakar's relationship with his mentor, close friend, and neighbor, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. The former military ruler, who has remained a potent behind-the-scenes force within the military since he ceded power to Abacha in a 1993 coup d'état, has now assumed a public role in Abubakar's regime. Ironically, he has begun courting the same press that he targeted earlier in the 1990s.

Abacha's death did nothing to expunge one of his despotic legacies – a wide selection of onerous decrees which the Abubakar government could use to punish journalists who continue to criticize official actions: The Detention of Persons Decree No. 2, allowing indefinite, incommunicado detention of citizens; the Offensive Publications Decree No. 35 of 1993, which allows the government to seize any publication deemed likely to "disturb the peace and public order of Nigeria"; and the Treason and Treasonable Offenses Decree No. 29 of 1993, which was used in 1995 by a special military tribunal to convict Kunle Ajibade, Chris Anyanwu, George M'bah, and Ben Charles-Obi as "accessories after the fact to treason" for reporting on an alleged coup plot, continue to threaten journalists. The four journalists, who were released by Abubakar in June, would certainly still be serving their 15-year prison terms if Abacha had lived. (For more information see "Outliving Abacha: Six Journalists' Prison Stories," a special report on Nigeria.)

The Mass Media Commission, a proposed regulatory body that would be granted wide powers to restrict journalists' ability to practice their profession, and grants the state authority to silence the press in the name of national security, remains on the regime's agenda. In the meantime, the independent media are watching the new regime carefully, judging Abubakar on his actions rather than his promises.

At year's end, Niran Malaolu, editor of the privately owned newspaper The Diet, remained in prison. Malaolu, who was arrested in December 1997, was convicted on April 28 by a Special Military Tribunal for involvement in an alleged coup plot against Abacha. On July 10, Malaolu's sentence was reduced to 15 years – still a horrifying prospect given the deplorable conditions he must endure in Katsina Prison, where he is reportedly critically ill and denied medical treatment. Although the scores of journalists released this year may begin to rebuild their lives, Malaolu's imprisonment serves as a reminder that egregious press freedom abuses could begin again at any time unless the country undertakes long-term reforms and true democratization.

Attacks on the Press in Nigeria in 1998