The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has denounced the alleged assault on Mrs. Philomina Attah, the agency’s editor and assistant chief correspondent, by a representative of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, FCT Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO).
This is stated in a letter titled “PROTEST LETTER AGAINST ASSAULT OF A NAN JOURNALIST, CAUTION YOUR OFFICERS” dated October 5 and addressed to the director of the FCT VIO.
Together, Chairman Collins Yakubu-Hammer and Secretary Funmilayo Adeyemi signed the letter, which was also copied to the Minister of the FCT and the head of the NUJ FCT Council.
The union expressed its sorrow over the allegedly improper behavior committed by a VIO Officer, known as Officer James, who is a part of the service’s outpost in Idu.
“On Sept. 29, Officer James assaulted Attah, an Editor/Assistant Chief Correspondent, on her way to work to attend an editorial meeting.
“He stopped her in the middle of the road at the Idu Junction, Abuja and refused to allow her to pull over, claiming her papers had expired, even when it was posted on her car windscreen that it would expire on Sept. 30, and she had already initiated the renewal process with the service.
“The said officer slapped her, calling her unprintable names. Some few minutes after the humiliation and assault, she got a text message via her phone that her vehicle papers renewal process was successful.
“In as much as the union will not want to press legal charges against the directorate/VIO and the said officer for now, we will appreciate it if you can call your officers to order,” the union said.
The officer James of the service’s outpost in Idu was required to issue a written apology to the union.
In order to prevent other too zealous service employees, it also advised the directorate to discipline officer James.
The NAN NUJ begged the director to examine into the matter of the officers’ roadside neatness, civility/decorum, professionalism, and sanity.
“As partners in progress, we will always educate our members to ensure obedience to traffic signs, lights and renewal of vehicle papers as at when due,” the union said.
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