Follow Us on Google
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Journalists have been urged to be circumspect in their reportage of the sexual allegation claims against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by fellow Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The charge was given by the Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association in Nigeria (BAVCCA), alongside over 400 content creators.
BAVCCA National Spokesperson, Tabuko Kennedy, in a statement yesterday, said he was concerned about the growing trend of media trial by public opinion on sensitive issues without proper legal backing.
According to Kennedy, the media should not be used by politicians to spread unverified accusations to tarnish reputations without legal processes being duly followed.
He said: “The BAVCCA is deeply concerned about the growing trend of media sensationalism and trial by public opinion on sensitive issues without proper legal backing.
“While we uphold the importance of media freedom, truth, and accountability, we reject the use of unverified accusations to tarnish reputations without legal processes being duly followed.”
Other News
He added that, “As content creators committed to ethical and factual reporting, we refuse to be drawn into sensationalising claims that lack legal backing.”
He, however, asked why Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had to wait until her seat was changed before raising these sexual harassment allegations.
In addition, he asked: “Why would Senate President Akpabio, a sitting Senate President, allegedly harass you while your husband was walking behind you? Does this claim hold logical weight?
“If the alleged harassment happened in Akwa Ibom, why didn’t you raise an alarm immediately or report the matter when and where it supposedly happened? Why now?
“Why have you consistently refused to file a sexual harassment lawsuit against any of the men you accused but would rather concentrate on media trial of these men? So you would rather focus on defamation suits rather than sexual harassment suits?
“Why did you not raise your voice on the Senate floor or officially petition the Senate Ethics Committee regarding your allegations? Or better still report to the Nigerian Police, why did you take the issue straight to the media?”
