Nigeria passes anti-press law
NZPA-Reuter Lagos Nigeria’s military Government published yesterday a stern new press law giving it the power to close newspapers and radio stations and jail journalists. The law puts the onus of proof on the person charged with publishing a false report or any story that brings Government officials into ridicule or disrepute. Trial will be by special tribunal, presided over by a High Court Judge, who will have three senior military
officers on his panel. The tribunal’s decision will be final. An individual found guilty under the new law would be liable to a maximum jail sentence of two years. Publishing organisations could face minimum fines of ?N13,000 (about $19,500). The Government will be empowered to close newspapers or radio stations for 12 months if they are believed to be “detrimental to the interest of the federation.”
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Press, 24 April 1984, Page 35
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141Nigeria passes anti-press law Press, 24 April 1984, Page 35
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