SERAP Sues President Tinubu Over Media Ban At Presidential Villa

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what they deem to be an “unlawful ban and withdrawal of the accreditations of 25 journalists and media houses from covering the Presidential Villa.”

Gatekeepers News reports that SERAP filed the lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking an order to compel President Tinubu to reverse the revocation of the accreditations and ban on the journalists and media houses.

They are also seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent arbitrary revocations in the future.

The suit number FHC/L/CS/1766/23 filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Kolawole Oluwadare, and Ms Valentina Adegoke, read in part: “The ban on the journalists from covering the Presidential Villa fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.”

“The banned journalists reportedly include those from Vanguard newspaper; Galaxy TV; Ben TV; MITV; ITV Abuja; PromptNews, ONTV, and Liberty. Other media personnel affected by the withdrawal are mostly reporters and cameramen from broadcast, print, and online media outlets.”

According to reports, the Federal Government recently withdrew the accreditations of some 25 journalists from covering activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The affected journalists were told at the main gate of the Presidential Villa to submit their accreditation tags.

In the suit, SERAP argues that the ban on journalists from covering the Presidential Villa without lawful justification is inconsistent with freedom of expression, access to information, participation, and media freedom. They contend that such an arbitrary ban sets a dangerous precedent and threatens democratic principles.

No date has been set for the hearing of the lawsuit.