BY EVELYN DADU, ABUJA – The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has frowned at what it described as the “unwarranted and totally undignified action” of a Human Right Radio presenter, Ahmed Isah (A.K.A. president of ordinary people), for physically assaulting a lady on the allegation of her being a culprit of a child abuse during a live TV interview.
Accordingly, NAWOJ has demanded an unreserved public apology and possibly compensation from Ahmed Isah to the assaulted and brutalized lady.
NAWOJ in a statement said that as a body of responsible women journalists that holds strongly to the ethics of the journalism profession, it is of the strong view that the action of Ahmed Isah, negates the basic principle of professional conduct and totally against known ethical standards of broadcasting.
The statement which was signed by its National President, Comrade Ladi Bala and National Secretary, Comrade Helen Udofa, noted that from the trending video in which the Tv presented brutalized the lady, it is clear that he constituted himself into an authority in the administration of justice wherein he charged his victim, tried, convicted and went ahead to administer the punishment as defined and prescribed all by himself.
According to NAWOJ; “These are powers that neither the Judiciary nor the Executive arm government does not possess.
“Having taken time to watch and analyzed the trending and very disturbing video contextually, NAWOJ believes that a crime cannot be used to justify another crime on the premise of carrying out an investigation that is totally alien to the provisions of the law in any material particular and journalism practice whatsoever.
“The video clip in which Ahmed Isah was seen interrogating the poor lady clearly showed how he not only assaulted her but seriously dehumanized her and reduced her self-esteem to an unacceptable low level of human dignity in spite of her admittance of an alleged crime and equally showed remorse.
“Pointedly put, the action of Ahmed Isah completely negates and contradicts what the Human Right station represents,” the association said.
While NAWOJ commended the radio station in its promotion of Human Right issues, it however stressed no one should be allowed to assume that he/she is above the law no matter their position of influence in the society.
NAWOJ therefore stressed the need for the nation’s security agencies to be allowed to do their job and not individuals taking laws into their hands.
The statement further states; “In this wise, NAWOJ insists that the overbearing posture of Ahmed Isah, who is the presenter of the “Berekeke Family” must be checked and put under control in the interest of civility and the society.
“Similarly, we recommend that the dastardly abuse meted on the innocent child by the lady should also be subjected to the provisions of the law and where found culpable, she should be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“NAWOJ says “TOTAL NO” to any form of child abuse and violation of any human dignity no matter the issue at stake”.
