INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN NIGERIA.

Kelly O. Udebhulu

-Hitches and Proffered Remedies.

Presenter: Kelly. O. Udebhulu.

All protocols observed.

Nigeria is unarguably the most populous black nation in the World. A nation in her fourth democratic republic ( 1999 till date) after series of military coups with military marshal laws enacted.

Practically, we live in a world of problems. Individuals, organizations, societies, governments, and so on, are never contented with their current states or conditions of life. They seek to make progress. But the attainment of that goal – attaining improvements in conditions of life – is often constrained by series of problems. Those problems must be solved or removed before any meaningful progress can be made. It is from this solemn view we shall look at the operation of investigative journalism in Nigeria. Societal factors work for and against the qualitative expected societal responsibilities and obligations of investigative journalism in our country.

What is Investigative Journalism?

By definition, investigative journalism involves exposing to the public matters that are concealed – deliberately by someone in a position of power, or accidentally, behind a chaotic mass of facts and circumstances that obscure understanding or human comprehension. It requires using both secret and open sources and documents.

For a broader look from the angle of journalism, conventional journalism depends largely and sometimes entirely on materials provided by others (such as police, governments, companies, individuals, etc.); it is fundamentally reactive, if not passive. Investigative reporting, in contrast, depends on material gathered or generated through the reporter’s own initiative (which is why it is often called “enterprise reporting”). The investigative journalist uses self-made mechanisms to source and get information for every circumstance.

From the aforementioned definition, I shall discern three types of investigative journalism. Professionally, these categories might overlap.

-Uncover scandals. Aimed at detecting violations of laws, rules or norms of decency, by organizations or individuals.

-Review of policies or functioning of government, businesses and other organizations.

-Draw attention to social, economic, political and cultural trends.

It is worthy of note that in the service of the public interest, investigative journalist's purpose is to uncover corruption, injustice, maladministration and lies. As a duty to readers and viewers as well as self-protection in a hostile legal environment, investigative journalism seeks above all to tell the documented truth in depth and without fear or favor. They are often keen in research and finding raw news from source directly.

In every investigative mind;

- It is to provide a voice for those without one and to hold the powerful to account. It's to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

-Investigative journalism is skeptical and keen to bring information that someone wants to be kept secret, into the public light.

In Nigeria or any other Nation where the judiciary is corrupt, investigative reporting is the preferred scapegoat of the powerful when they have something to hide. That is the "ugly beauty" and the "icing on the cake" in the functioning of Journalism in general.

Around the globe not limited to Nigeria only, investigative journalism is under threat from a variety of hostile forces that may seem to have different agenda to the detriment of the general public yet use similar tactics and procedures in their governance. Governments - regardless of their professed ideologies - big corporations, powerful personalities and overzealous institutions are high-jacking the judicial system and promoting a perverse regulatory framework to prop up their self-defined right to be immune from criticism and scrutiny. Attempt to infiltrate their staged ideologies and mechanisms amount to direct confrontation which must be pull down by all means.

One of the preferred tools of those institutional Goliaths playing David in the courts is the national and international law that allows a claimant to sue for libel without any need of proof that their reputation has suffered serious harm. Any reporter can be sued for libel wherever they are based over released report. Governmental interference in the judicial activities of the judiciary that supposed to be an independent arm of the government, arbitrarily add colors to every of such judgment. And any fat cat can claim millions in compensation for every perceived slight to their PR-enhanced image.

The role expected to curb the threats against qualitative journalism in Nigeria.

To successfully deliver advice to a hungry person, food on the table would play an important role. Thus, as we have corrupt government or institutional persons, so does it exists in journalism not limited to investigative journalism per se. Greed and mindset which are major cause must be handled by the government and institutions maturely .

For example, if the government and media industries want to enhance freedom of expression by helping journalism cum investigative journalism, it would do well to look beyond the commercial marketplace. There’s a need to put in place legal and social policy measures that allow more creative and collaborative models for quality journalism in the public interest and eradication of fear from the instincts of every reporter that tomorrow is sure, that is; food on the table and judicial activities is fair.

Our collective role is to build a society of ours that allows justice, fairness, integrity, respect for human rights and rule of law freely.

Thank you.

*Kelly O. Udebhulu is an Investigative journalist, a blogger and community crusader.