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Thu, Mar

Attack On Journalist: Daily Trust Berates Fani-Kayode, Described His Action As Act Of Mischief

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The Management of Media Trust Limited, publishers of the Daily Trust Newspaper has condemned the attack on its reporter, Eyo Charles by a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode. The Media outfit said should anything happen to its reporter; it would hold Fani-Kayode responsible. Daily Trust described the action of the ex-Minister as reprehensible as he was captured in a video verbally insulting a journalist for a simple question that he should have just answered. The incident took place in Calabar, Cross Rivers State capital on Thursday, 20 August 2020, at a Hotel while at a press briefing.

Charles as usual for a journalist to ask a question when it is time, he put a question to the former Minister that all this his tour across the country, who is bankrolling his trips, the question which infuriated the former Minister and started raining insult on the journalist, calling him names and even threatened to attack the Charles physically.

Daily Trust noted that upon realizing his goof, the ex-minister edited the video clip to exclude the question that was asked by the journalist, "totally devoid of mischief as any journalist should."

The newspaper said that the editing has paved the way for a social media lynch mob to rain expletives on its reporter, labeling him as ‘rude’.

The newspaper house vowed to stand by its reporter, however, frowned at him for not giving the ex-minister back in his own coin.

It said the Daily Trust is a responsible media outfit who are on top of their game and uphold the tenets of decent journalism and practice.

It further explained in its statement, “That Fani-Kayode attacks a reporter doing his job, is an indication of the chilling disregard he has towards the media and its work in investigating and reporting on issues.

“As always, we stand in solidarity with our reporters and will continue to fight for the rights of all journalists. After all, journalism is part of the bedrock of democracy; therefore practitioners must not be intimidated or threatened as they carry out their work.

“We urge the Nigeria Police to take note, that if anything happens to Charles, Daily Trust will hold Fani-Kayode responsible, especially due to the intensity of the verbal threats he issued during the shocking incident,” it said.

The newspaper said that the behavior of the former minister who also claimed to be a lawyer does not portray him as irresponsible and threat to the freedom of the press in the country, saying his action raises concern over the safety of pressmen in the country.

 

 

 

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