Armed police officers on August 12, 2015, barred several journalists from entering a courthouse in Lagos state, according to news reports. The journalists were attempting to cover a court tribunal in which Tony Ashikodi, the candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, petitioned the court to contest the victory of Femi Gbajabiamila, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress party, to the House of Representatives at the February 28, 2015, parliamentary polls, according to news reports. The police, according to news reports, were acting on superior orders that nobody, including journalists, should be allowed into the courtroom.
Details
Date of Occurrence
2015-08-08
State/Country
Lagos
Perpetrator
Policemen attached to the Lagos State Police Command
Legal Foundation
The Journalists constitutionally guaranteed reporting and information rights were overstepped by the state agents