Niger: Journalist and blogger Samira Sabou faces jail and a million franc in compensation for defamation charges

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July 15, 2020, Niamey, Niger -- Manager of the Mides-Niger website and editor of Niger Search, Samira Sabou was arrested on June 10 following a summons that was issued in response to a defamation complaint filed by Sani Mahamadou Issoufou, the son and deputy chief of staff of Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou.

Samira had posted on her Facebook account on May 26, an allegation of a connection between Sani Mahamadou Issoufou and an audit of the military. The allegations were first posted in a March 24 report by the Jeune Afrique news site.

Samira, who is also the president of the Association of Bloggers for Active Citizenship - ABCA has now been in pretrial detention in a prison in Niamey.

In the prosecution proceedings that were held yesterday, the prosecution demanded one-month imprisonment and one million West African CFA in compensatory damages ( Approx. 1,750 USD). Samira’s lawyers demanded the acquittal of the case and her immediate release based on the claims of defamation lacking a legal basis. 

Niger’s Press House had issued a statement condemning Sabou’s arrest, and restating Niger’s prohibitions on preventive arrests for press violations. The statement also noted that Niger had signed the Table Mountain Declaration, a regional pact advocating for the abolition of criminal defamation laws. Following yesterday’s prosecution hearing Niger Press House also stepped in to mediate the issue between parties.

The final verdict on the case will be given during a hearing on July 28. If found guilty, Samira will be able to walk free as she will have already served her time by July 28 under pretrial detention however she will face the hefty debt on compensation for moral damages.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands the acquittal of the case based on groundless charges. The Niger government should respect freedom of press and journalists fairly reporting on corruption allegations should not face legal repercussions.