The Federal Government (FG) has issued a subtle threat to sue Daily Trust Newspaper over alleged “fake news” and “misinformation” in its report on the Samoa agreement and other publications.
The federal government said it would lodge a formal complaint with the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) Ombudsman against Daily Trust over “irresponsible” reporting on the Samoa agreement.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, accused the media of publishing unfounded stories against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, the insidious and inciting publications by the Daily Trust these past months have been a deliberate attempt to brush the government with tar.
While restating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “friendly” policy towards free speech, Idris said the federal government will not take fake news and disinformation that would injure the peace of the country and its national security lightly.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government has maintained an open-arm relationship with the media. It is in line with the philosophy of the President as an avowed democrat who spent a lifetime fighting for the entrenchment of democracy and human rights,” he said.
However, contrary to the stance of an open-arm relationship with the media, President Tinubu’s administration has illegally detained journalists who have come forward with evidence to hold the government accountable.
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