Silencing the Truth? Journalists Face Threats Over Explosive Investigation Into “Missing Professor”, Call for Tinubu’s Probe
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A firestorm of controversy has engulfed the country’s academic and media landscapes as investigative journalists and bloggers face intimidation for exposing concerns over the credentials of a Nigerian Professor, Simon Uchenna Ortuanya.
It all began when renowned human rights activist and journalist, Comrade James Ezema, penned a compelling open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging an urgent probe into Prof. Ortuanya’s academic qualifications. Ezema, who serves as National Vice President (Investigation) of the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ), flagged an alarming discrepancy—Prof. Ortuanya’s name was missing from the 2021 directory of full professors in the Nigerian University System, a publication by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
But what started as a call for transparency has quickly spiraled into a chilling crackdown on media voices.
“I Am Being Threatened for Telling the Truth” – Journalist Speaks Out
One of the most vocal reporters amplifying Comrade Ezema’s concerns, Agu Chineme, founder of Chineme Agu TV blog, has issued a desperate public appeal. He revealed mounting threats from influential figures demanding he take down his coverage.
“My phone has not stopped ringing,” Agu disclosed. He alleged pressure from powerful academics, politicians, and even state officials—including a directive reportedly from the Governor himself—to suppress the story.
Agu fears for his safety, warning that attempts to silence journalists who expose inconvenient truths signal a dangerous precedent. “If I am detained, I want the world to know: I am innocent,” he pleaded.
Weaponizing Authority to Silence Scrutiny?
The Independent Nsukka Solidarity Agenda Worldwide has condemned the threats, alleging that state machinery is being deployed to stifle transparency. The group confirmed that insiders within the academic community have validated the glaring omission of Ortuanya’s name from the NUC’s register—raising urgent questions about his appointment at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
Some critics argue that his rise from Lecturer I to Professor, allegedly bypassing standard academic processes, constitutes a grave violation of academic integrity.
“Nigeria’s Academia Must Not Be Politicized”
Reacting to the developments, Comrade Ezema doubled down, insisting that Nigeria’s academic institutions must remain bastions of merit, not political maneuvering.
“We are not attacking an individual; we are defending a process, a legacy, and a national institution,” Comrade Ezema asserted.
He further condemned the threats against journalists, warning that media suppression is a dangerous descent into authoritarianism.
With growing calls for government intervention, media rights organizations—including the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)—are monitoring the situation closely. The big question remains: Will truth prevail, or will intimidation succeed in silencing dissent?
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