L’Alternative journalists sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in Togo
A court has sentenced two journalists in Togo to three years’ imprisonment.
Their lawyer revealed this during the week.
Ferdinand Ayite and Kokou Kouwonou (also known as Isidore Kouwonou), director and editor of the biweekly newspaper L’Alternative, respectively, were charged in December 2021 with public contempt of authority and propagating falsehoods on social media.
The charges followed complaints by Justice Minister Pius Kokouvi Agbetomey and Commerce Minister Kodjo Adedze over a YouTube broadcast.
On Wednesday, a court in Lome “sentenced Ferdinand Ayite and Isidore Kouwonou to three years in prison and handed down a $4,900 fine to each,” said their lawyer Elom Kpade.
Rights groups often accuse President Faure Gnassingbe of cracking down on opposition figures and journalists.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has denounced the sentencing.
“Togolese authorities should immediately cease their legal harassment of journalists Ferdinand Ayite and Isidore Kouwonou and allow them to work freely,” said Angela Quintal, the CPJ’s Africa program coordinator.
Ms Quintal added, “Journalistic commentary on issues of public interest should never be criminalised, and the summonses issued to these journalists should be scrapped at once.”
The journalists are currently in hiding.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Alleged goat thief nabbed by police in Niger
The police command in Niger says it arrested Adamu Abubakar, a suspected thief.
Politics
Political campaigns, posters, rallies remain banned on campus, says UNILAG
UNILAG restated its ban on pasting political banners, handbills, stickers, and other campaign materials on school-owned property.
States
Military pensions board honours 98-year-old veteran in Delta
The Military Pensions Board has honoured 98-year-old military veteran Echenim Emmanuel Ewemiwe for his service and sacrifices to the nation.
Anti-Corruption
Dead, Underage Voters: Yiaga exposes rot in INEC register, rejects Amupitan’s clean-up claims, demands independent audit
“We found duplications, dead persons on the register (INEC also admitted), multiple registrants, underage registrants, and other errors you’ll find on the register,” said YIAGA.
Lagos
Gridlock on Apapa road as container falls off truck
A container fell off a truck and landed on its side at the roundabout near Fidelity Bank on Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos, causing a gridlock.
Politics
Ojudu warns of looming national crisis over political violence ahead of 2027 elections
“We have seen how quickly a crisis of confidence can become a crisis of the republic,” Babafemi Ojudu said.
