IPI Places Egbetokun, 2 Governors On Blacklist
The International Press Institute Nigeria has added Niger State Governor Umaru Bago, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to its Book of Infamy over actions the group believes restrain press freedom in the country.
The update was made on Tuesday during the Institute’s Annual General Meeting in Abuja.
The Book of Infamy, created in 2022, serves as a permanent record of individuals, institutions and security agencies accused of repressing journalists or blocking free reporting.
It also keeps track of cases of harassment, intimidation and obstruction involving persons in public office.
According to the Institute, Governor Bago was listed after shutting down Badeggi 90.1 FM on August 1, 2025.
The group said it reached out to him and also involved the Minister of Information, but the station remains closed.
The Institute noted that the step taken by the governor goes against the rights of journalists and the public’s access to information.
Governor Eno was also named in the record for sending Channels Television’s Christopher Mufat and Kufe Ipe out of the Akwa Ibom Government House on May 24, 2025, after their report on his remarks.
The Institute said repeated attempts to speak with him were ignored.
For the Inspector General of Police, the Institute stated that his name was added due to ongoing reports of police arrests and intimidation of journalists across the country.
The group said these actions have continued despite talks held with police authorities.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chaired the event, appealed to the Institute to allow two weeks for him to meet the governors and the police chief to resolve the issues.
He said he would speak with them and push for a reversal of the actions that led to their appearance in the Book of Infamy.
At the same event, the Director-General of the State Security Service, Adeola Ajayi, received a Commendation Award from the Institute for what it described as his steady respect for media rights and his positive relations with journalists and media organisations.
