The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Zone B, has accused operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of repeatedly harassing and intimidating officials of its Ogun State Council, demanding an immediate end to what it described as unwarranted persecution.
The union made the demand in a communiqué issued at the end of its Zonal Executive Council, ZEC, meeting held at the NUJ Lagos State Council Secretariat on Sunday.
The communiqué was signed by Princess Ronke Afebioye-Samo, Vice-President, Zone B, and Abdulrazak Alege, Zonal Secretary.
The meeting, presided over by the NUJ Vice-President, Zone B, Princess Ronke Afebioye-Samo, expressed concern over the psychological, financial and emotional difficulties allegedly experienced by the affected officials and their families during the EFCC investigation.
According to the communiqué, "the Ogun State Council Chairman and other officials had honoured invitations from the EFCC Ibadan Zonal Office, opened the council's financial records and responded to questions on approximately 25 occasions."
The union, however, alleged that the investigation was being handled with apparent bias, particularly by an officer identified as Bashir, Head of the Economic Governance Unit, who reportedly claimed to have concluded his preliminary report before interviewing the Ogun NUJ Chairman.
The ZEC also questioned the jurisdiction of the EFCC Ibadan Zonal Directorate over the petition, arguing that Ogun State falls within the operational jurisdiction of the Commission's Lagos II Zonal Directorate.
It expressed reservations about the petitioners, alleging that some were individuals suspended by the NUJ National Executive Council over alleged anti-union activities, while others were not members of the union.
"The NUJ is an independent professional and labour organisation, not a financial institution, company, government agency or contractor. Our activities are sustained through voluntary contributions and support from individuals, governments, groups and corporate organisations," it said.
The union called on the EFCC leadership to intervene, ensure an impartial investigation and prevent further harassment of the Ogun State Council officials.
It maintained that any evidence of wrongdoing should be pursued through appropriate legal channels rather than sustained intimidation.
"No individual or organisation is above the law. Investigations must be evidence-based and conducted with fairness and respect for fundamental human rights," the union stated.
The ZEC expressed solidarity with the affected Ogun State Council officials and pledged to pursue legitimate institutional and legal avenues to protect members against unlawful harassment and victimisation.
It also urged journalists across the South-West to maintain unity and resolve internal disagreements through the union's constitutional mechanisms.
On infrastructure, the ZEC called on federal, state and local governments to rehabilitate deplorable roads across the South-West, complete ongoing projects and resume work on abandoned ones to reduce road crashes and safeguard lives.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the union urged journalists to uphold objectivity, impartiality and non-partisanship in their reports.
It also directed the six NUJ state councils in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti to organise training programmes on the Code of Election Coverage.
It also commended the outgoing Lagos NUJ Chairman and Secretary, Adeleye Ajayi and Tunde Olalere, respectively, for their six years of service, while noting that the council's election scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2026, would produce a new leadership.
The meeting was attended by the NUJ Deputy National President, Dr Abimbola Oyetunde, national officers from the zone, and chairmen and secretaries of the six state councils.
NUJ South-West accuses EFCC of harassing Ogun council officials, demands immediate stop