The last may not have been heard about Hon Emmauel Orie who represents Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly who allegedly slapped an Owerri based journalist, Mr. Destiny Isinwa.
Orie had denied the act but Mr. Isinwa insists that he was actually assaulted by the lawmaker when he went to the State Secretariat of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Owerri to cover an event.
Several groups have condemned the action of the lawmaker.
The latest is a group of journalists from Orlu zone who told the lawmaker to apologize to Mr. Isinwa and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ in the seven days.
The letter reads:
*Hon. Emma Orie*
Member, Representing Ohaji-Egbema State Constituency
Imo State House of Assembly
Nigeria.
*APOLOGIZE TO MR. ISINWA DESTINY, NIGERIAN HORN NEWSPAPERS, NUJ, OZCOJ & IMO PEOPLE WITHIN 7 DAYS*
Following your widely reported grievous assault on one of our members, Mr. Isinwa Destiny of Nigerian Horn Newspapers and your subsequent denial, we consider your actions as not only offensive, repulsive, demeaning and quite unbecoming of a supposed Honourable you should be, the above organization in her last general meeting resolved as follows:
1. That you tender an unreserved apology to the victim, (i) Mr. Isinwa Destiny, (ii) the Nigerian Horn Newspapers, (iii) the NUJ, Imo State Council (iv) the Orlu Zone Congress of Journalists (OZCOJ), and (v) the Good People of Imo State respectively. Each apology letter should carry your letter head and personally signed by you.
2. That the victim, Mr. Isinwa Destiny be handsomely compensated accordingly to appease him on the bodily and psychological injuries he suffered as a result of your “military” combat on him.
3. That if the above demands are not responded to within 7 days, our organization will be left with no other option than to direct her members who are active practitioners on both electronics and print media in collaboration with other international media organizations to do the needful in ensuring that your “inordinate” and “unholy” disposition against a Journalist of Orlu Zone extraction is adequately dealt with, including seeking legal redress.
While awaiting your prompt responses, please accept the assurances of our highest regards.
*Signed:*
*Amb. Ikenna Onuoha, M.Sc, Anipr*
Coordinator
