Nigeria Withdraws Charges Against Two Journalists Alleged To Have Forged Presidential Letterhead Papers

 

 The federal government has formally withdrawn a case of alleged forgery of a presidential bromide against two journalists of Leadership newspaper in 2013 in Abuja.
Group News Editor Tony Amokeodo and Political Correspondent Chibuzor Ukaibe were dragged to court on 11 counts of conspiracy and forgery in connection with a presidential bromide used in a story in the newspaper on April 3 of that year.

Last month, in a letter dated September 23 and addressed to Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, the government lawyer in the suit, Director of Public Prosecution Muhammadu Diri directed him to discontinue the matter.
It would be recalled that in July 2013, the presiding judge, Mr. Usman Musale, had issued a summons for the then president, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, to appear before him with appropriate documents to testify in the suit.
Under that subpoena, Mr. Jonathan was requested to appear before the court on a daily basis to give evidence.  Among the documents required of him was the contested presidential directive which contained the seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.  The federal government appealed the summons. Analysts say they see the withdrawal of the suit as a major boost for press freedom in the country.