The trial of an investigative journalist, Idibia UA Gabriel, over his news report which exposed the poor conduct of the 2023 Kaduna Hajj exercise is coming up in court today, Tuesday, November 28, 2023, in Kaduna.

The journalist and Head of Bureau Northern Operations, Daybreak Nigeria newspapers, Abuja, is standing trial for alleged defamation, instigating religious crises and insults, in Magistrate Court 2 Daura Road Kaduna, over the report.

The journalist was arrested and detained two times by operation “Yaki” police in Kaduna and later sent to prison on trump up charges after arraigned in court, by the state Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Agency.

Management of Daybreak Nigeria Newspapers earlier, in a press statement signed by it Publisher and member Nigerian Guild of Editors Dr. Austin Maho, described the action as unlawful arrests and incarceration of the journalist Mr. Idibia.

“Unlawful Arrest and Incarceration of Gabriel Idibia, Daybreak Head of Bureau Northern Operations.

“We the management of Daybreak Nigeria hereby draw the attention of members of the public, media stakeholders, lovers of democracy and free press to the unlawful arrest and incarceration of our staff, Mr Gabriel Idibia by the police in Kaduna over a factual and investigative report published in the Daybreak Nigeria newspaper which the authorities are yet to disprove.

“Gabriel Idibia was first detained on the 26th October 2023, and was subsequently released on bail and asked to report back on the 9th November 2023, when he was rearrested,” Daybreak stated.

“The police evidently on the prompting of powers above, against all known ethics of the profession wanted him to disclose the sources of his information.

“He rightfully declined and was summarily arraigned before magistrate court 2 Daura Road, in Magajin Gari area of Kaduna town, and sent to prison where he spent two days because he could not meet the unusually stringent bail conditions set for him.

“The matter has been rescheduled for 28th November for mentioning.

“We condemn his harassment and unlawful arrest. Journalism is not a crime. Journalists by virtue of section 22 of the 1999 Constitution as amended are empowered to hold government accountable to the public.

“This constitutional provision is at the heart of our democracy and the reason why journalists needs protection in the performance of their constitutionally empowered function at all times.

“It is unfortunate that dissenting voices would resort to jack boot tactics and intimidation when there are laid down processes in dealing with what ordinarily is a civil matter.

“It is further unfortunate that institutions of state funded with tax payers money like the police would allow itself to be used against a citizen and a journalist in the lawful discharge of his constitutional function.

“If democracy fails, we all perish, if political leaders and those occupying public office can no longer be held to account, it would be the end of democracy and enthronement of tyranny and totalitarianism in Nigeria.

“It was Thomas Jefferson, a former President of the United States who famously in 1786 said “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter"

“This underscores the importance of a free press to keep government and those holding public office in check. The media provides the avenue through which those holding positions of trust are held accountable to the people.

“The incarceration of Gabriel Idibia in the course of his job, is a gross abuse of his rights, criminalisation of journalism and a violation of the public’s right to know.

“Since he started working with Daybreak Nigeria, Gabriel Idibia is the most resourceful investigative journalist in our team. All his reports have followed laid down ethical considerations based on facts, objectivity, fairness and accuracy.

“His arrest and detention is anti-democratic and an affront on press freedom and those responsible for this conspiracy against our staff should be called out for trying to nuzzle the free press.

“The police and others who have allowed themselves to be used in this case must know that press freedom is one of the building blocks of every democratic society, without it, we will drift into anarchy and dictatorship. Journalists must be allowed to do their jobs without being hounded and intimidated.

“Journalism is not a crime. Gabriel Idibia has committed no crime.

We call on the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Civil Society Organisations, media rights groups and other stakeholders to prevail on the police to allow Gabriel Idibia the air of liberty to perform his lawful duties without let or hindrance and all obnoxious charges against him dropped immediately,” it stated.

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