The Lagos State Government has assured that the reported harassment of journalists by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Kunle Fagbemi, is being addressed and will be resolved amicably.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, gave this assurance on Saturday, stressing that the administration does not condone any form of intimidation or harassment.
The incident, which occurred at the Lagos House in Ikeja during an official programme, allegedly involved Fagbemi confronting members of the governor’s press crew.
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The event in question was an empowerment programme organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative, a pet project of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The initiative aimed to empower 1,000 women across Lagos State.
Eyewitnesses at the venue alleged that the CSO intercepted the bus conveying journalists attached to the governor’s office and accused them of being “disruptive” and “unprofessional.”
According to journalists present, Fagbemi reportedly used abusive language during the altercation, creating an embarrassing scene. Efforts by some media personnel to de-escalate the confrontation were said to have been unsuccessful.
Although no physical violence was recorded, members of the press expressed concern about their safety and described the encounter as part of a recurring pattern of intimidation at government events.
Speaking anonymously, a journalist told PUNCH Online:
“The guy has been doing that for many years, but we just always leave him. Over small issues, they will just display for us. What did we do for you? As he keeps harassing journalists, we feel like it is the height of it today.”
The development has raised concerns within media circles, with calls for Governor Sanwo-Olu to initiate a formal probe into the matter.
When a phone number believed to belong to Fagbemi was dialed, the respondent denied being him, insisting, “Actually, you’re calling the wrong person.”
However, when informed that True Caller identified the line as Kunle Fagbemi, the individual responded, “Sometimes if I do the same work you do, we try to save people’s names as our own names.” The explanation hinted at a possible security strategy.
When pressed further on the allegation of harassment, the respondent retorted, “Where is that? I harassed a journalist?” before abruptly ending the call.
Reacting to the incident, Akosile confirmed that he had been briefed and assured that the misunderstanding was being handled with both parties.
He stated:
“I wasn’t there when it happened, but I have just been briefed about the development, and we are looking at it. One thing I can assure you is that it’s going to be a friendly affair at the end of the day. The security operatives have their jobs. They are protecting Mr Governor and the first family. The journalists are there to do their job. So no one should hinder the other from doing their job. There should be no place for harassment.
“It’s over six years that we have been in government, and we’ve never heard that anybody has harassed anybody before in this administration. We don’t do it, it’s not in our DNA. And this is a one-off, and we will definitely look into it.”
The media aide further disclosed that a reconciliation effort was already underway between the governor’s office and the press corps.
“As I speak with you, as soon as I heard about it, we’ve had a meeting with the press corps and we’ve apologised to them for what happened, and I’ve also spoken with the affected Chief Security Officer to the governor. He also told me his own side that he was trying to tell them not to go beyond a certain place, but I believe it was a misunderstanding. It’s something that will be resolved amicably,” Akosile added.
