A former governorship aspirant in Edo State and veteran media personality, High Chief Jacob Egietseme Idinye has decried the growing menace of the social media in Nigeria as a tool to blackmail officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and to also soil the good names and integrity they’ve built over the years.
Idinye who is also a winner of over 32 different professional awards locally and internationally in Maritime Reporting and Customs activities in a chat with some journalists at Marriott Hotel, Ikeja on Sunday expressed disappointment over the activities of some investigative journalists who are now on the prowl using Customs officers as their prey.
The Edo born politician added that accusing people of corruption or any infractions must come with proofs and such matter should rather be in Courts rather than using it to overheat the polity for pecuniary gains. He maintained that there are men of integrity in the Service who will never compromise their patriotism, dignity or integrity for any gratification.
According to him: “When people make claims, they should always come with proof or empirical evidence not just circulating misleading comments and narratives on the social or mainstream media. When you alleged that at least 40 Nigeria Customs Service personnel, most of them in the service’s highest hierarchy, have been in a robust EFCC investigation into the proceeds of bribes paid to customs officials by smugglers importing and exporting contraband goods through the Nigerian borders you must come up with your proof to defend this weighty allegations.
“This so called investigative journalists should stop soiling the image of officers of the NCS. These are men putting their lives and career on the line to protect our borders and ensuring that goods coming into the country don’t impact negatively on the socio-economic wellbeing and livelihoods of the citizenry. Smugglers are like armed robbers. These men carry firearms and even kill government officials in uniform. The personnel of the NCS must be commended, appreciated and not vilified.
“It is most ridiculous to read and hear that seven officials were detained by the EFCC for days late last year with some of them spending the festive period in detention when proceeds of bribes allegedly from smugglers totalling over N12 billion were traced to them. How can anyone keep such money in his or her account? The self acclaimed investigators or whistle blowers should go to Court within 24hours with proof of bank statements as alleged or stop overheating the polity misinformation. Is it not illogical? How can someone worth 12 billion and still remain in Service? This is utter crap
“Thankfully Nigerian government has now enabled banks to collaborate with relevant agencies through use BVN and NIN to track any illicit or slush funds in the system. It is highly reprehensible and preposterous to read or hear stories like this. Investigative journalists so-called should approach the Court and prove their case instead of using the social media to tickle fancy, blackmail and pass falsehoods for their pecuniary gains. Accusing people of corruption is a way of heating back at the government without any justifiable reasons.
“Permit me to also clarify this very well. The reality is that clearing agents or importers never pay money to Customs officers before their goods are cleared. Monies are always paid directly to the Federation accounts in banks before the goods are cleared by the Customs. It is only bank receipts that Customs honour at the Ports before goods are cleared. The value chain doesn’t involve physical cash at all. People really need to think properly before making damaging comments on the social media, especially about Customs officers and their activities. Enough of this shameful and embarrassing shenanigan.”
Idinye further expressed his worry on why social media would permit untrained hands to circulate information, stressing that it is dangerous to journalism practice and peoples’ reputation. He noted that persons, who were neither trained as journalists nor obliged to abide by the ethos and ethics of the profession, have latched on the social media to spread falsehoods and propaganda about people, ostensibly to “blackmail and malign them.”
He lamented the helplessness of traditional journalism in tackling the danger and threat social media constitutes. He called for efforts by institutions such as NIJ and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), regulating the practice of journalism.
“There is nothing we can do now about social media, it is becoming something else, this is a terrible thing and dangerous to the trend of journalism. Sadly in recent times, especially in Nigeria, unqualified authors and social commentators abound with no modicum of dignity. Only with a mobile device or personal computer supported with internet facility, people now own ‘newsrooms’.
“Everyone can now spread news, pictures, stories, comments and reactions using the blogs, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms. The downside is that more often, misguided and unethical practices replace the informed code of conduct that guides the noble media profession.
“It is just too obvious that some people cannot handle with maturity, the freedom and limitless platform presented by digital media since there is no control or checks put in place. These destructive ideas include contempt of religions, discrediting religions, provoking racial, communal, religious, ideological and regional commotion, spreading biased rumours, malignantly distorting facts, libelling, defamation, cursing, fabricating accusations as well as insults etc.
“Apart from what is expected of our regulatory bodies to stem the tide of this distasteful scourge and I also expect the judiciary to help in joining the fight to mitigate the abuse of social media and practice of the noble profession.” Idinye said.