The Nigeria Police Force has solicited the Foundation for Investigative Journalism -FIJ Board of Trustees, Bukky Shonibare to approve the medium executive director and editor-in-chief, Fisayo Soyombo.
FIJ had recently exposed irregularities in the country’s customs service personnel and the invitation could be linked to that.
In her words:
‘Fisayo is willing to honor the police invitation if invited and clarified that the award-winning journalist is not on the run as assumed by the police.
The police’s line of questioning had revealed an attempt to dissuade FIJ from publishing investigative reports independently. The deputy director suggested that FIJ should partner with the police instead of publishing their findings, signifying a more favorable treatment for organizations that adopt this approach.
This incident raises concerns about press freedom in Nigeria and the independence of investigative journalism who work in the nation.
The police’s attempt to influence FIJ’s reporting and investigative practices undermines the role of the media as a watchdog and protector of public interest. It also underscores the importance of upholding journalistic integrity and resisting undue pressure from authorities to compromise journalistic standards.
One thing can be agreed upon though, and that is that journalists should be able to conduct investigations without fear of reprisals or harassment from law enforcement agencies.
