Don’t Peddle Rumours to Fight Injustice, Falana Urges Journalists
A Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has urged journalists not to peddle rumours in their quest to fight injustice in the country.
Falana, who is also a human rights activists gave the advice on Monday night at the 14th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting at Ikeja, Lagos.
The award was organised by Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) to celebrate journalists who take the risk of protecting democracy.
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The Senior Advocate of Nigeria congratulated the awardees also urged them to keep up the good work.
“We must ensure we fight injustice until it is over in our country.I will also urge us all, particularly journalists, not to peddle rumours in their quest to fight injustice,” he said
At the event , different categories of Journalism and Lifetime Awards were awarded to journalists who excellently in investigative reports in various fields.
Isine Ibang, who works with The Next Edition Newspaper won the Investigative Reporter in the online category and the 2019 WSCIJ Nigerian Investigative Reporter of the year with his reports on “How Bribe Taking Security Operatives Gangs Force Nigerians To Pay Dearly for Food.”
Damilola Banjo of Sahara Reporters and Chikezie Omeje of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) were runners up in the online category.
The Punch Newspaper photojournalist, Odutayo Odusanya emerged the winner of the Photo category while Ayodele Adeniran of The Guardian Newspaper, Saheed Olugbon, Punch Newspaper were runners up.
In the Editorial Cartoon category, Albert Ihams of The Sun Newspaper won with his reports on N13.5 million Sitting Allowance for Senators while Mary Abayomi-Fatile of Federal Radion Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) emerged winner in the Radio category for her investigative report on “Alleged Police Extra-Judicial Killing of Madam Basirat Akinmushire.”
Samuel-Wemimo Bukola and Sharon Ijasan of the Television Continental (TVC) scooped up the Television category for their reports on “Depression and Suicide” and “Child Labour, Child Rights, Labour Laws Violated by Chinese Company”, respectively.
Samson Folarin of Punch Newspaper took home the print category award with his reports, “Certificate, Plagiarism Scandal rocks Nnamdi Azikwe University” while Oladimeji Ramon of the Punch Newspaper and Chinwe Agbeze of Sun Newspaper were runners up.
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WSCIJ also honoured Mr Sunmi Smart-Cole, a veteran photojournalist and the Amnesty International Nigeria with a Lifetime awards for journalistic excellence for their fight against human rights violations and oppressive laws.
