Kutigi chases journalists out of confab session

Justice Idris Kutigi, chairman of the National Conference, on Wednesday ordered journalists out of the plenary over what he described as discussions bothering on security.

Chief Albert Horsefall, deputy chairman, committee on national security, had presented the committee’s report.

Kutigi said having the press around could expose sensitive information to the public.

“Can the pressmen clear please? The pressmen should disappear, please, pressmen disappear. Shut your cameras; shut everything and get out,” he ordered.

The directive prompted security operatives to chase out those within and outside the hall. Some were not even allowed to pack their belongings and working gadgets.

In solidarity with the journalists, some delegates threatened to stage a walkout, stating that the chairman should have addressed them in a decent manner.

The delegates included former presidents of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lanre Ogundipe and Sani Zoro; Damien Dodo; Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa and Femi Falana.

Others were Chief Raymond Dokpesi, chairman, Daar Communications; a representative of NAWOJ, Mrs Brenda Akpan; and Mrs Joe Okei-Odumakin, among others.

They, however, appealed to journalists not to allow the incident to dampen their reportage of the conference to the public, whom they were constitutionally obliged to serve.

Meanwhile, the journalists refused the request of the conference leadership  to return after the report had been presented.

Referring to the incident as embarrassing, they demanded a formal apology from Kutigi and the entire delegates.