The International Press Institute Nigeria has named Niger State Governor Umaru Bago, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in its ‘Book of Infamy’.
Book of Infamy is a blacklist of public officials and institutions accused of suppressing press freedom across the country.
IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed, announced the new entries on Tuesday during the Institute’s Annual General Meeting in Abuja, themed “Addressing Media Repression and Safeguarding Democratic Accountability in Nigeria.”
Launched in 2022, the Book of Infamy, also referred to as the Book of Accountability, serves as a permanent public record documenting individuals, agencies and authorities found to have violated press freedom. It also catalogues incidents of media repression, harassment, and obstruction of journalists.
Mojeed said Governors Bago and Eno were inducted for ordering the closure of a radio station in Niger State and expelling journalists from the Akwa Ibom Government House, despite repeated attempts by the Institute to get them to reverse their actions.
He said Bago’s decision to shut down Badeggi 90.1 FM on August 1, 2025, was “undemocratic, unconstitutional and unacceptable,” adding that both the Institute and the Minister of Information had intervened without success.
“The matter remains unresolved. For this reason, Governor Bago is hereby listed,” he stated.
Mojeed added that Eno expelled Channels Television’s Christopher Mufat and Kufe Ipe on May 24, 2025, after their reporting revealed remarks made by the governor.
He said efforts to engage the governor were ignored.
“For refusing to reverse his administration’s repressive action and for perpetuating a climate hostile to journalists, Governor Umo Eno is hereby listed in the Book of Accountability,” he said.
According to Mojeed, the Inspector General of Police was added for failing to curb “systemic media repression” perpetrated by police officers nationwide, including arrests and harassment of journalists despite engagements with the Force Headquarters.
“For failing to uphold his constitutional duties and allowing systematic media oppression, Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun is hereby listed,” he said.
Responding at the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima — who chaired the occasion — appealed for a two-week grace period to mediate between IPI and the listed officials.
“I crave your indulgence. Give us a grace period of two weeks. Governor Umo Eno is a pastor and a humble man. I will impress on him to restore those Channel reporters. Bago is my friend as well; I will invite him to my office and we will sort things out,” he said.
Shettima also promised to engage Egbetokun, whom he described as “a man in the eye of the storm,” assuring IPI that the matter would be addressed.
Meanwhile, IPI Nigeria announced the Director-General of the State Security Service, Adeola Ajayi, as the recipient of its Commendation Award for his “unmistakable commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media organisations.”
Credit: Punch
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