Nigeria’s Senate has rejected a recommendation to blacklist two newspapers from covering its activities, following a petition by Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan.
Lawan had complained that two newspapers allegedly reported that angry youths prevented him from gaining access to his constituency.
The lawmaker denied that the incident happened and demanded an apology and a retraction.
The matter was referred to the committee on ethics and privileges.
Presenting the report to the Senate for consideration on Wednesday, the chairman of the ethics committee, Sam Anyanwu, said it was recommended that the newspapers publish a retraction and be blacklisted from covering the activities of the upper legislative chamber.
But Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senator representing Abia south, told his colleagues that instead of blacklisting the newspapers, they should tender “unreserved apologies”.
“I would want for us to please consider mitigating this proposed punishment of blacklisting but they should tender unreserved apologies,” Abaribe said.
Barau Jibrin, Senator representing Kano North, also supported Abaribe’s position.
When the two recommendations were put to a voice vote by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, the lawmakers voted “aye” for the newspapers to tender an apology to Lawan and “nay” for them to be blacklisted.
