It is night fall again in Nigeria. Journalists are wary that trying times may be back here. Only that this time a legitimate democratic institution, the law court is said to be susceptible to manipulation in order to persecute the media in Nigeria. As you read this, at least tens of reporters and media managers at the stable of the Sun Group of newspapers may be on their way out of job courtesy of a ruling said to have been handed down in “an error” on Monday by a Federal High Court, Abuja freezing all the assets and liabilities of controversial former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.

Justice A.I Chikere had on Monday granted leave to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to freeze and where applicable manage every business owned by ex-Governor Kalu who was alleged to have misappropriated and embezzled N2.7 Billion while presiding over the affairs of Abia State. Unfortunately, whenever it rains there is no distinguishing between the guilty and the just. The Sun Group of Newspapers, an outstandingly successful set of publications was affected by the decision.

By virtue of the ruling by the Abuja court, the Sun titles would now be managed by the EFCC, a development which is now seen technically as an attempt by the government to “muzzle the media.” Pointblanknews.com investigations revealed that although Chief Kalu gave the seed money for the Sun publication in 1997, two years before he was elected the Governor of Abia State, he virtually had no hand in the day-to-day affairs of the Newspaper organization. He was said to have envisioned a credible and formidable set of publications in 1997 while Nigeria was still under the jack-boot of militocracy but the concept was not actualized until sometimes in 2003.

All the titles from the Suns stable still hit the news stand; they possibly would still be published for the next few days. However, pointblanknews.com learnt that since whatever liquid cash they have could soon dry up, the titles may soon disappear from Nigerian street. And when that happens some of the brightest and most brilliant hands in African Journalism including the CNN, Multi-Choice African Journalist of the year and the General Editor of the Sun Group, Sola Osunkeye would be rendered jobless.

There was much panic and worry amongst workers at the Sun headquarters in Lagos yesterday. The Abuja Bureau offices of the title also experienced its own panic attack. The bank accounts of the Sun Group have already been frozen and some journalists initially confused on the direction of things but were later assured by the senior management of the group to report for work. The workers were said to have turned out in great numbers.

A cross section of them spoke with poiblanknews.com saying that they would have no option than to drop their pen and jotters if the EFCC would be the body now saddled with the task of administering the newspaper outfit. Some of them told pointblanknews.com that the government which they accused of masterminding the ruling is out to turn journalists to puppets and praise singers that would be used to rubber stamp the actions of the Yar’Adua administration and the programs of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP of Nigeria.

Mr. Mike Awoyinfa, celebrated prose-stylist and first class reporter is the managing Director of the Sun Group. He gave a few clarifications to pointblanknews.com yesterday. He said that the Sun Newspapers was conceived as a business idea that would serve the Nigerian public with the best ideals of journalism available anywhere in the world.

Awoyinfa said that the titles were a massive success from the very start. “ Yes Dr. Kalu gave the seed money. That was way back in 1997. This company has never received any dime from him since he was elected Governor. It is unfortunate that professional journalist would be dragged into whatever conflict politicians have between themselves.

He explained that the former Abia State Governor never got involved in the management nor appointed anyone to act on his behalf while he was governor, adding that he completely stayed away from the affairs of the Sun and divested all his interest in the Newspaper.

“It is an attempt to muzzle the media. Already we are talking with our lawyers. Nobody can dim The Sun, the Sun will always shine, Awoyinfa said.”