NUJ Demands Investigation into Journalist's Four-Year Sentence

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has requested an impartial investigation into the case of Farida Isiak, a journalist with Nagarta Radio in Kaduna State, who was sentenced to four years in prison for defamation related to a Facebook post. The post criticized the police's treatment of her parents during a dispute over N100 change from a charcoal sale.

Isiak, 23, was sentenced to either four years’ imprisonment or a fine of N1.75 million. Following legal intervention, she was granted bail and prevented from being transferred to a correctional facility.

The NUJ's National President, Alhassan Abdullahi, emphasized the case's implications for freedom of expression and the treatment of journalists. The NUJ also called for a fair hearing during Isiak's retrial, scheduled for November 3, 2026, and urged the police to clarify the circumstances of her arrest and her parents' detention.

The union expressed concerns that such criminal proceedings could deter citizens from voicing concerns about public officials.