The Kogi State House of Assembly has said that the journalists that published the interview on plans by the Kogi State Government to obtain a loan of N20 billion, okayed by the House without due consultation with stakeholders no longer needs to appear before it.
A statement signed by Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution(CHRCR), Mr. Miliki Abdul said the house suspended the summon following intervention from the Kogi state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ).
“It is sad to note that despite the legality surrounding our action and comments in the said magazine, the Kogi State House of Assembly moved a motion of urgent public importance on Thursday 22nd August 2013, inviting my humble self IDRIS MILIKI ABDUL, the executive director of the centre for human rights and conflict resolution (CHRCR) based in Lokoja, Mr. Ade Bada, the publisher of the PUBLIC MAGAZINE, a local publication based in Lokoja and one Iliyasu Maigida. This invitation however generated a lot of tension, comment and public debate in and out of Kogi state, particularly among the media and human rights community”, he said, adding that the house decided to drop the said summons today.
“However, today Tuesday 27th August 2013, on the floor of the same assembly, our invitations was withdrawn, based on the intervention according to them, of the chairman of the Nigerian union of journalist (NUJ) Kogi State Chapter, Alhaji Ali Atabor and other stakeholders”, he said.
Abdul explained that he accepted the withdrawal of summons in the interest of peace after consultations since the issue is not about individuals involved but the issue of humanity and the freedom of expression.
“I have accepted the withdrawal as contained in the motion moved on the floor of the assembly unconditionally. I therefore want to thank my colleagues in the human rights community, the media practitioners in and out of Kogi State, and the general public for their show of solidarity”, he said.
