Chief Julius Bokoru, Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has faulted recent media reports linking his principal to an alleged coup plot.
In a statement issued on Friday, Bokoru argued that some reports had gone beyond investigative journalism and appeared to reinforce a deliberate narrative against Sylva.
He acknowledged the vital role of Nigerian journalism in holding power to account but urged media organisations to scrutinise their sources and methods before publishing sensitive allegations.
“The allegations have been repeatedly serialised, repackaged and amplified in a manner that increasingly gives the impression of a deliberate campaign to cement a particular narrative in the public mind,” Bokoru stated.
He questioned the origin and timing of leaked materials forming the basis of the reports, warning against presenting allegations as established facts.
Bokoru stressed that guilt could only be determined through due legal process, noting: “An allegation is not evidence; an investigator’s theory is not a conviction; and a statement contained in an investigative file is not a judicial finding of guilt.”
He cautioned that repeated publication of allegations risked prosecuting matters in the court of public opinion, where evidence is not formally tested.
Calling for media independence, Bokoru said: “Nigeria deserves a fearless press. But a fearless press must also be an independent press.”
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