THE management of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust and other titles, has condemned as reprehensible the verbal umbrage unleashed on its reporter, Mr Eyo Charles, who is the Cross River State correspondent of Daily Trust, by Mr Femi Fani-Kayodes last Thursday at a function in Calabar, the state capital.
A viral video of the verbal assault on Mr Charles by Mr Fani-Koyode, which went viral on Tuesday on Whatsapp was reported to have occurred last Thursday at a hotel during a roundtable with journalists, a statement signed by Naziru Mikailu Abubakar, Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief of Media Trust, disclosed on Tuesday evening.
“During the roundtable, Charles asked Fani-Kayode who was bankrolling his recent trips around Nigeria, to which the ex-minister responded with a raised voice, insults, and eventually a threat to inflict bodily harm on our reporter. The barrage continued for some minutes, while bewildered journalists, including our reporter, looked on.
The statement, entitled: “Fani-Kayode’s Attack on Daily Trust Reporter: Our Stand”, reads:
“The management of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust and other titles, would like to condemn the reprehensible actions of Femi Fani-Kayode, who in a video clip now gone viral, verbally assaulted – repeatedly – our reporter, Eyo Charles in the course of doing his job. The encounter occurred in Calabar, Cross River State, in the morning of Thursday 20, August 2020 at a hotel, during a roundtable with invited journalists.
“During the roundtable, Charles asked Fani-Kayode who was bankrolling his recent trips around Nigeria, to which the ex-minister responded with a raised voice, insults, and eventually a threat to inflict bodily harm on our reporter. The barrage continued for some minutes, while bewildered journalists, including our reporter, looked on.
“The video clip, also released on one of the ex-minister’s social media accounts, was conveniently edited to exclude the question asked by Charles, totally devoid of mischief, simply sought clarification and information, like good journalism should. Said editing paved the way for a social media lynch mob to rain expletives on our reporter, labelling him as ‘rude’. This could not be further away from the truth, and we stand by Charles, and commend him for his calmness during the ordeal.
“Daily Trust reporters are responsible professionals, who uphold the tenets of journalism, as well as best practices.
“That Fani-Kayode attacks a reporter doing his job, is an indication of the chilling disregard he has towards the media, and its work in investigating and reporting on issues. As always, we stand in solidarity with our reporters, and will continue to fight for the rights of all journalists. After all, journalism is part of the bedrock of democracy; therefore practitioners must not be intimidated or threatened as they carry out their work.
“We urge the Nigeria Police to take note, that if anything happens to Charles, Daily Trust will hold Fani-Kayode responsible, especially due to the intensity of the verbal threats he issued during the shocking incident.
“The actions of Fani-Kayode are not only reprehensible, but also constitute a setback to press freedom, in a most dire form. This kind of assault raises major concerns over the safety of journalists in Nigeria.
“Daily Trust is a completely independent media organisation that does not pander to the whims of any individual or group, no matter how powerful or well-placed in society. We will continue to serve Nigerians – and indeed the world – with quality, reliable reportage, no matter whose ox is gored.”
Below is the transcript of the video, which lasted 2 minutes, 9 seconds:
“Look, I am saying this on life TV, put that thing…, let me address; What type of stupid question is that? What type of stupid question is that? Bankrolling who? Do you know who you are talking to?
“Look, I will not take any questions from this man. What type of insulting question is that? Which bankroll? To do what? Who can give me money for anything? Who do you think you are talking to? Bankroll what? Go and report yourself to your publisher. Bankroll what? Please don’t insult me here. I don’t want to take any questions from this man.
“I could see from your face before you got here, how stupid you are. Don’t ever talk to me like that…, who do you think you are talking to? Bankroll who?
“You think that I am one of those who want to…from who, from how, where, when? You have a small mind, very small mind; don’t judge me by your own standing; I have been in politics since 1990; I am not one of these politicians you think will just come… I was taken…; I have been locked up how many times by this government, suffered. I have been prosecuted, unlike most of the politicians you follow for brown envelopes, you!
“Don’t ever judge me by that standing; I spend, I don’t take and I am not a poor man, I have never been, and will never be. Bankroll, how? Don’t ever suggest that to me.
I am sorry that is deeply insulting, I don’t often get annoyed in press conferences. I have been doing this type of thing for many, many years; don’t you ever make that kind of suggestion to me.
Bankroll me, a former minister? A lawyer? Don’t ever try that with me again oo; don’t please; see me well, don’t, ever! Alright, I have a short fuse, okay, don’t! try it with others but don’t; I won’t just say it here now; I will hit you hard; don’t; and if anybody sent you to ask that question and gave you bribe, go and tell them that you got more than you bargained for, tell them.
Very rude; it’s not the standing of Daily Trust at all, and I will report you to your publisher. Thank you.
