By CHARLES IWUOHA

The 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 over invasion.

The group made the demand in a statement signed by the Leader of Union of On-Air Personalities (OAPs), Enugu Uma Uche Gabriel, and the Convener, Office of the Citizen, Onyebuchi Igboke, on Wednesday in Enugu.

The also demanded that the overzealous officers involved in the unlawful invasion be identified and appropriate sanctions meted out on them.

?The EFCC should desist from further harassment of the practitioners in the Mass Media Industry.

According to them, the coalition made up of professionals in the mass media and the civil society has reviewed the unfortunate episode reported to have happened between officials of EFCC, and staff of Urban Radio, Enugu in their live studio on the evening of Monday, Oct.14, 2024.

?We viewed the whole episode as disgraceful. As it is globally known, the live Studio of any broadcasting organisation is a SACRED ALTER 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 the EFCC has had to invade homes of citizens, student hostels, hotels, clubs, etc without warrants and in the process violate the fundamental rights of the persons affected which makes one wonder the level of training these officers have as regards rules of engagement within their profession,? they said.

They stressed that liberty of the mass media to free and responsible speech as the conscience of the people is guaranteed by section 39 of the Nigerian constitution and as such must be protected at all costs.

?While the coalition does not support illegality of any sort perpetuated by any person and will stand by any law enforcement agency in ensuring that justice is served to errant persons, it must be said unequivocally that 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 the citizens and the country.

?Otherwise one would wonder why the hurry to arrest a suspect who was live on air, the disruption of a live programme and the ultimate interruption of transmission by the officials who carried out the operation,? they noted.

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