The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has suspended veteran journalist and editor, Mr. Steve Osuji, from the professional body for a period of one year over what it described as a serious breach of journalistic ethics.
According to a letter dated July 4, 2025, and signed by the Guild’s President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the suspension takes immediate effect and stems from Osuji’s violation of an off-the-record agreement during the Guild’s 25th Biennial National Convention held in Enugu on June 27.
The Guild stated that Osuji disclosed confidential information from a presentation made by the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi – information which had been shared with Guild members under a strict non-disclosure understanding.
Citing Article 4 of the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists concerning privilege and non-disclosure, the Guild emphasized that its members are bound to uphold confidentiality agreements and protect sources who offer information off the record or in the background.
“During the investigation into your actions, you were given an opportunity to defend yourself. However, instead of acknowledging your mistake, you threatened the Guild with further publications,” the letter read.
While noting that Osuji reserves the right to appeal the decision, the Guild reiterated its commitment to upholding ethical standards in journalism and warned that it would not tolerate any breach of its code.
The disciplinary action was approved by the Standing Committee of the Guild, whose membership includes leading editors from across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
Osuji, former editor at The Guardian, Thisday and NewAge, had in the EXPRESSO_Umbrage column titled ‘Guild Of Editors Meet: Questions DG, DSS Missed,” raised issues with the presentation by the secret police boss.
Part of the questions Mr Osuji raised in his write up include the following:
“QUESTIONS FOR DG, DSS: First, in your meetings at the highest security gathering (NSC?), is there any contemplation of closure for this protracted terror and criminality raging in Nigeria for so long?
“Do you people discuss timelines for closure and strategies for ending the malady?
“Abi na like this Nigeria go dey till Christ comes?!
“This is one of the questions on the lips of Nigerians. It’s one of the questions we would have asked if you had allowed yourself to be moderated.
“QUESTION TWO: What really is the duty of the secret police that you head?
“Why has intelligence failed Nigeria in the battle against terror and insecurity?
“DSS operatives are supposedly present in every LGA and even wards. Yet bandits and terrorists operate with so much impunity and bravura, sometimes giving advance notice as reported in the YELEMATA killings in Benue?
“Many LGAs are till this moment, under the control of bandits who collect levies and taxes from farmers and locals.
“Again, what really does the DSS do?
“Why are bandits and terror gangs out-thinking Nigeria’s MSI (military-security-intel) establishments by miles?
“Earlier this year, a military command was sacked in Borno. Why can’t we seem to preempt and decimate this untutored gang with superior intel?! Is it that the scissor is blunt or the barber is dumb, as we say in Igboland?
“DG Ajayi showed the editors a video clip of how his men trailed one of us all over Abuja. I guess that was supposed to impress us. We are not impressed in the least sir!
“A certain Bello Turji, (my auto-correct keeps insisting on Tunji Bello!) a known terror kingpin, has been roaming the land and inflicting pain and sorrow. How come the DSS can’t track him? Some of us thought we were going to see a clip of how high profile bandits are trailed and neutered.
“But our able DG showed us how he trails us. That’s a low!
“THIRD QUESTION: How come bandits and terrorists have become headquartered and domiciled in Nigeria? All through the west coast of Africa – from Mauritania through Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana and even Togo and Benin, not one of these countries is being terrorised like Nigeria. Why is Nigeria’s case different?
Able DG, Nigerians have concluded that corruption is fueling Nigeria’s terror.
“Nigerians think devilish corruption by the top brass of the MSI, is responsible for the endless insecurity in Nigeria.
We would have loved to hear your thoughts on all this.
“FINAL WORD: This column thinks you need to moderate your public appearance. We understand the need to make light of even a morbid situation, but your making jokes at every turn is in bad taste for us. There’s no joy in Nigeria currently.
“Insecurity. Hunger. All round poor leadership make Nigerians very sad today. That’s the mood of the nation. Standing before us and trying to make some dry jokes rubs off badly.
“The other day you asked communities to defend themselves. Haba Oga DG, how?
“You have the massive intelligence infrastructure, you have thousands of operatives, you have hundreds of billions of naira budget, yet you ask us to defend ourselves.
“If we shall have to do the work ourselves then we shall have to disband the DSS first. That stands to reason!
“Again and again, What’s the strategy for closure of this insecurity and terror madness? That’s what Nigerians want to hear from you guys in the NSC. Nothing short!”
