MEDIA-FOR-DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA – MFD
C/o IPC, House 11, Dideolu Court, Ogba, Lagos-Nigeria
2009-09-23
PRESS RELEASE
MURDER OF OHU: GRAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR NIGERIAN MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY
The Media-for-Democracy In Nigeria firmly believes that the horrendous assassination of Bayo Ohu, Assistant Political Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, September 20, 2009, has grave implications for the exercise of the right of freedom of the press, freedom of expression, opinion and thought as well as the future of democracy in Nigeria.
In this regard, the MFD comprising Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), Independent Journalism Centre (IJC) and the International Press Centre (IPC) holds that the wave of targeted killing of journalists poses a direct threat to the ability of the media to monitor governance and hold elected leaders accountable as constitutionally stipulated.
The MFD further contends that the killings are also meant to instil fear in the minds of those who frequently and freely use the media to express their feelings about the state of affairs in the economy and polity thereby making a mockery of the country’s so-called democracy, the hallmark of which is supposed to be free speech and accountability. 
For example in the count-down to the 2011 elections (starting with Anambra’s guber elections next January) and disturbing tales of corruption in the top echelons of the private and public sectors, the question arises as to who will demand accountability if these assassinations are not halted.
It is in this wise that the MFD also totally rejects the unwarranted and highly un-professional suggestion by the Police that the murder of Bayo Ohu could have been carried out by so-called armed robbers.
The MFD demands that no stone must be left un-turned while all possible clues must be examined to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime against humanity are brought to justice.
The MFD calls for the support of international freedom of expression, media and human rights groups such as the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the International Freedom of Exchange (IFEX), Article 19 (the International Freedom of Expression group), Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) etc in fishing out Ohu’s killers and stopping the killing of journalists in Nigeria.  
(Full text and more reports on www.ipcng.org)
SGD:
Lanre Arogundade
Director, International Press Centre (IPC)
Tel: 234-1-8112422, 234-(0)8023186845
Email: larogundade@ipcng.org, ipc@ipcng.org