The Guild had, on Thursday, announced the suspension of Mr. Osuji for publishing details of a keynote address delivered by the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, which had been declared “off the record” during the Guild’s 25th Biennial National Convention held in Enugu.
But in a swift and strongly worded reaction, Osuji faulted the process and intent behind the Guild’s decision.
“This is not good for the Guild,” he said. “Apparently, they didn’t consult widely enough before arriving at this drastic decision. Pity," he further stated.
The respected media professional, who has served as editor at The Guardian, Nation, ThisDay, and New Age newspapers, and was Special Assistant on Media to former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, insisted that the publication in question was not a breach of ethics, but a contribution to public discourse.
“I did not set out to undermine any confidentiality agreement,” he maintained. “What I wrote was not a verbatim account of a classified speech but a commentary on issues of national importance raised in a professional gathering of editors. If such issues cannot be referenced or debated, then we are killing the soul of journalism," he further explained.
Osuji also took issue with the Guild’s approach, stating that due process was not followed. “I was neither invited for a hearing nor given a fair chance to explain my side. For a Guild that champions justice and freedom of expression, this suspension reeks of intolerance and internal politics,” he alleged.
He further cautioned the NGE against setting what he called a “dangerous precedent” that could stifle open debate within the journalism profession. “If the Guild now wields the big stick without rigorous internal deliberation, what separates us from the forces that have always tried to muzzle the press?” he asked.
The Guild, in its official statement, expressed regret over the publication and tendered an apology to the Director-General of the SSS, reiterating its commitment to ethical journalism and public trust. It stated that Mr. Osuji’s actions breached the off-the-record agreement and violated the Guild’s code of conduct on confidentiality.
The NGE also announced that Osuji would be barred from all Guild activities for one year, including the forthcoming All Nigerian Editors Conference.
Despite his suspension, Mr. Osuji remains defiant. “I’m not broken. My conscience is clear, and I will continue to speak for a freer, bolder, and more principled press,” he declared.
The Guild has noted that Mr. Osuji has the right to appeal the decision, but for now, the suspension stands as a bold move to reaffirm discipline and ethical compliance within Nigeria’s top journalism body.
