The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Citizens’ Engagement Committee, Kunle Edun, SAN, has strongly condemned the decision of the Nigerian Senate to summon Ahmed Isah, the host of the popular Brekete Family Radio, over his interview with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
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The interview in question followed a heated exchange between the senator and Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the Senate.
In a statement issued on Monday, Edun decried the move as “a dangerous disposition towards dictatorship”, warning that it signals an attempt to suppress free speech and public accountability.
“Ahmed Isah is a journalist performing a role that is provided for and protected by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The media, as the Fourth Estate of the realm, is an essential pillar of democracy, ensuring that the government and public officials remain accountable for their actions and inactions,” he said.
Edun emphasized that legislators hold their positions by the will of the people and must use their power solely for the benefit of the citizens rather than intimidate them or suppress free speech.
“The power and authority they exercise were donated to them by the people. It is not meant to be used as a tool for harassment and oppression. Intimidation of citizens for exercising their constitutional right to free speech is a step toward dictatorship and authoritarian rule, where dissent and opposition must be crushed,” he added.
The NBA official further called on the National Assembly to respect Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and champion freedom of speech rather than seek to silence critical voices.
“If public officials find the heat of public scrutiny unbearable, they should resign. Democracy thrives on accountability, and those in positions of authority must be willing to subject themselves to the scrutiny of the people they serve,” Edun concluded.
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