Editors Shocked By EFCC Invasion Of The SUN
By Victor Ernest
President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) Funke Egbemode says she was shocked by the EFCC alleged invasion of The Sun newspaper headquarters in Lagos on Monday.
In a statement issued in Lagos, the NGE boss said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission invaded The Sun premises due to alleged pro-Biafra, Boko Haram, Niger Delta Militant publications.
”The fierce-looking operatives prevented staff of the organisation from either entering or leaving the premises of the company and disrupted the circulation process.
Forfeiture order
She questioned the forfeiture order allegedly brandished by the EFCC at THE SUN on Monday morning, which she said is a 10-year-old case and a matter still before the Court of Appeal.
”As a statutory agency birthed by an Act of Parliament in a democracy, we had expected the EFCC to explore civil means of perceived infraction by a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian democratic project.”
Egbemode, therefore, urged the EFCC to be more democratic in carrying out its statutory obligations so as not to infringe on people’s right.
”The Guild, therefore, urges the EFCC to purge itself of all anti-democratic tendencies in order to foster mutual cooperation with the media and other stakeholders in its anti-graft crusade.
”The Guild calls on the EFCC to put an end to its current attempts to gag the Press and also demands an unreserved apology from the commission to THE SUN Publishing Ltd.”
