Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, has indicted Cable News Network (CNN) for desperation after its second on the shootings at the Lekki tollgate area of Lagos State that took place on the night of October 20.
He disclosed this on Wednesday while appearing on an NTA programme.
CNN had on Tuesday released a second investigative report on the shootings at Lekki toll gate plaza that occurred during #EndSARS protests.
Reacting to the report, Mohammed countered CNN’s reports, noting they lacked credible sources to substantiate the claims.
The minister had initially threatened to sanction CNN after it released the first report.
Speaking on the second report, the minister said, “It shows that they (CNN) are desperate. The so-called recent development has been seen before. There is nothing new. If there is anything new, it is a contradiction of CNN’s position.
“What we are asking CNN is that where is your evidence? The military has been consistent. CNN contravenes the basic principles of journalism – fairness, and balance.
‘They did the story without contacting the Federal Government for its own side. They relied on second and third parties narratives.
“They (CNN) were caught spreading fake news and they are trying to escape.
“We are accusing them (CNN) of basing their stories on videos sourced on social media. CNN has been inconsistent. It also doctored the video it got.
“We are confident in our position.”
Reacting to the letter addressed to Jonathan Hawkins, VP (Communications), CNN Centre, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Mohammed said, “We have received an acknowledgment and we were told that the letter has been passed to the editorial team.”