President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Mohammed Garba says the union is concluding plans to institute legal action against Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) over the recent brutalisation of a photo journalist in the course of his duties.
Mr. Garba said the union accepts the apology made by the state governor, Babatunde Fashola but would not be deterred from ensuring the culprits are brought to justice so that the incessant harassment of journalists especially in Lagos state will be curbed once and for all.
He said the union plans to follow up the recent incidences of harassment of journalists, including the case of the photo journalist with Compass Newspapers who was beaten up by thugs in Ikeja while attempting to take pictures of an over-crowded train, to ensure that the culprits are either arrested or suspended from their duty posts pending the outcome of investigation and subsequent prosecution.
The NUJ boss said the union will no longer stop at mere condemnation of assault and intimidation of journalists around the country but will push for severe sanctions to be meted on culprits until effective safety standard is instituted for journalists in Nigeria.
