WikkiTimes Becomes First Nigerian Newsroom to Join Global Legal Protection Network
In a major development for press freedom in Nigeria, WikkiTimes, the investigative news platform, has become the first Nigerian media organization to join Reporters Shield, a global network that provides legal and financial protection against censorship and harassment.
Reporters Shield, founded by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and The Vance Center For International Justice, specifically defends investigative outlets targeted by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)—lawsuits designed to intimidate or financially silence watchdog journalism.
Over ₦150 Million in Annual Legal Defense
With this membership, WikkiTimes gains access to over ₦150 million (approximately $100,000) in annual legal defense coverage, along with expert counsel from the Vance Center for International Justice in New York. The partnership provides a three-tiered protection strategy encompassing prevention, response, and defense—a crucial shield for newsrooms operating under intense pressure.
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“We’re delighted to have WikkiTimes on board as our first member in Nigeria,” said Amani Hammami, the Reporters Shield Membership Coordinator for Africa. “This partnership reinforces the newsroom’s ability to hold power to account while staying protected against unjust legal retaliation.”
Since its founding, WikkiTimes has faced intense pressure, including nine lawsuits and multiple legal harassments linked to its investigative reporting. Publisher Haruna Mohammed Salisu has been arrested, sued, and faced a bench warrant for his work.
“An Opportunity for a Fight to Finish”
Publisher Haruna Mohammed Salisu described the membership as a “game-changer” and an “opportunity for a fight to finish.”
“For any aggressor thinking that they will strangulate us to death, they need to have a rethink; we are not dying anytime soon. We will be around for a while to ensure they do not sleep,” Salisu said.
The newsroom’s previous challenges include an arrest in February 2023 while covering elections, during which Salisu’s phone was seized by police despite a court order for its return. In August 2024, a bench warrant was issued for Salisu and another reporter after they missed a hearing in a defamation suit by a lawmaker.
WikkiTimes’ onboarding marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s independent media landscape, offering a mechanism to legally fortify newsrooms against financial ruin and arbitrary arrests, thereby strengthening their capacity to hold power accountable.
By PRNigeria
