From CHARLES ONYEKWERE
Coalition For Free Speech, a body made up of professionals in the mass media, has advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to tender an apology to Urban Radio, Enugu, for invading its premises.
The group made the demand in a statement signed by the Leader of the Union of On-Air Personalities, OAPs, Enugu, Uma Uche Gabriel and the Convener, Office of the Citizen, Onyebuchi Igboke.
They also demanded that the overzealous officers involved in the unlawful invasion be identified and appropriate sanctions meted out on them.
“We view the whole episode as disgraceful. As it is globally known, the live studio of any broadcasting organisation is a sacred altar and its sanctity is never to be desecrated.
“The nature of the invasion is only reminiscent of the military era and as such, undermines the practice and advancement of democracy.
“It is on record that EFCC had invaded homes of citizens, hostels, hotels, clubs, etc without warrants and in the process, violated the fundamental rights of the persons affected which makes one wonder the level of training these officers have as regards the rules of engagement within their profession.
“While the coalition does not support illegality of any sort and will stand by law enforcement agencies in ensuring that justice is served on errant persons, it must be unequivocally said that the rule of law must be upheld and duly followed in such operations.
“The invasion of Urban Radio Enugu by the EFCC is seen by the coalition as one of the several attempts to gag the mass media in Nigeria and deter it from performing its rightful duties to citizens and the country.
“Otherwise one would wonder why the hurry to arrest a suspect who was live on air, disruption of a live programme and interruption of transmission by officials who carried out the operation,” they noted.
