NUJ tackles Justice Umar over call for return of Decree 2

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(Nigeria) Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has condemned the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Justice Danladi Umar, over recent his call for the return of Decree 2, which saw the detention of journalists without trial under the Major General Muhammadu Buhar military regime of 1983.
NUJ in a statement by its National Secretary, Shuaibu Leman, said "The attention of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has been drawn to a recent comment by Justice Danladi Umar of the Code of Conduct Tribunal advocating for a return of the draconian anti media law of 1984, Decree 2 which was promulgated by the military to detain journalists without trial.
"Justice Umar was quoted to have expressed this desire recently at the end of proceedings during the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki. While reacting to a newspaper publication which reported that he adjourned the trial indefinitely, he stated that “journalists should be punished for publishing falsehood, it is a criminal offence. If not that we are under a democratic setting, I would have advocated for the retention of Decree 2.”
"We have repeatedly cautioned that threats and attacks against the media are aimed at inducing fear and self censorship. These are the basic strategies of authoritarian regimes and not democracies like Nigeria. 
"The recourse sometimes to fierce and lethal counter reactions to reports by journalists who would challenge the statusquo or reveal discomfiting truths would not augur well for this nation which is seeking rebranding.
"Those who attack or threaten journalists must be held accountable for their acts and we call on Government to take necessary steps to ensure that journalists report freely," the statement added.

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