Journalists accuse the assistant of the governor of abuse of office, intimidation

The union of the Nigeria of journalists (Nuj), the Council of State of Ogun Monday accused the special assistant of the Governor of the State of Ogun for students’ affairs, Azeez Adeyemi, of bad conduct, abuse of offices and intimidation, as well as defamation of the character of a member of the profession of pen.

The union clarified him in a press release issued at the end of the meeting of the Emergency Executive Executive Committee (sec) held on Monday.

The press release stressed that Adeyemi would involve members and affiliates of his faction of the National Association of Nigerian Students (Nans) to torture a journalist, Olajide Oosoba.

He said: the Union of Nigerian journalists, the Council of State of Ogun strongly condemns the deplorable, unjustifiable and condemnable acts of harassment, intimidation and defamation of the character on our esteemed colleague and member of the Union, his partner Olajide Oosoba by the special assistant too zealous for the governor of the students, Mr Azeez Adeymi.

“Attention from the meeting of the executive committee of the state of emergency (sec), the Union condemns the unjustified threats, the assassination of character, the verbal abuses and the reprehensible behavior towards a journalist by Azeez Adeyemi and a group of people who are believed to be members and affiliates of his feared faction of the National Association of Nigerian students (NAN).

The press release, jointly signed by his partner Wale Hlarewaju (President) and Bunmi Adigun (secretary), recalled that the bad conduct of Adeymi began by the celebration of May when the journalist was attacked and beaten by sponsored clinical suspicions

He added: “This absolutely unacceptable act began by the celebration of 1 May 2025 that our union, the union of Nigerian journalists (Nuj), a affiliated union of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) actively participated in its members.

“Comrade Oosoba, a member in good faith of Nuj, was present but later molested, beaten without mercy and seriously injured, presumably, on the directive of the special assistant of the governor for students’ affairs, his partner Azeez Adeyemi, while he came out of the cultural center of 12 June, Kuto, without a cause.

“This unfortunate case, his partner Oosoba, was turned on to the Ibara Divisional, Ibara, Abakuta police station. Following his invitation for the investigation by the police of the Police Station of the Ibara Division, the SA did not leave an intact stone in his intentional attempt to harass, intuitive, intuitive, made himself said directly in small size, when he left a change of acting during the fridge during the Olajide osoba a member of a feared group of worship and asked the police to hunt and arrest the journalist using his office as a special assistant to the governor as a base for this oppression.

“Only last week, the police officers of the state headquarters, Eleweran, came to stop Oosoba, waiting for him from morning to evening in order to be taken away even without a preventive invitation.

“In the same way, the officers of the Abekuta division of the AIG office, zone 2, Lagos, arrived with another invitation letter while the boys of Adeymi sided continuously for Oosoba at the Iwe Iroyin Press Center.

“This absolutely uncivilized behavior by the special assistant cannot be tolerated in a democratic society, granted that any form of assault on a journalist is a deal to the fundamental principles of freedom of the press and the right of citizens to access accurate and impartial information. The press must remain free, not beaten and authorized to play its vital role in society.

“It is profoundly worrying that an individual has entrusted the responsibility to support the law and the order would remember to the use of excessive strength and intimidation against journalists. These actions not only undermine the integrity of the media, but also erodes the trust between the government and the people who serve.”

Consequently, the union decided that Adeyemi, its faction of Nans and their accomplices are immediately prohibited and declared a non-grateful person inside and around Iwe Iwe Iroyin Press House, Oke-Silewo, Abokuta.

The other resolution has declared that the unimidation of the members (journalists) of the police and criminals orchestrated by the special assistant of the Governor of the State of Ogun and people should immediately stop.

The Union has also requested a correct investigation on the matter, starting from the 2025 May Day Celebration Brutal Incident, underlining that the union will not tolerate or accept any moves that will prohibit its members and prevent them from unloading their statutory responsibilities in the event of sockets in the state of Ogun.

He said: “That as supporters of the freedom of the press, in no case, we should allow any move that will silence the consciousness of the members of the fourth seal of the Kingdom. Our secretariat is a safe space for freedom of the press and professional journalism.

“We urge the government of the state of Ogun to take quick and decisive actions to call the special assistant to order and to ensure that measures are implemented to safeguard the rights and safety of the life of journalists since repeated infringements will no longer be treated slightly.

“That Ogun Nuj and his members have enjoyed good work relationships and fantastic collaborations with the government of Prince Dapo Inhabitun, governor of the State of Ogun, and we will not allow a special assistant too zealous to launch the government against the media, giving the government a bad image in public attractions”.

The Council of State of Ogun of journalists in the press release reiterated his commitment to defend the rights and dignity of journalists and maintain the holiness of the media space in the state. [Eagle Online]

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