WikkiTimes launches Femi Falana fellowship to protect journalists from intimidation
WikkiTimes has launched the Femi Falana Defenders Fellowship to strengthen judicial support for journalists and civic actors in Nigeria.
In a statement on Monday, the organisation said Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous countries for media professionals in West Africa, occasioned by arbitrary arrests, physical attacks, and widespread impunity for crimes against journalists.
It said the year-long fellowship is designed to train, mentor, and place 25 early-career Nigerian lawyers in law firms, chambers, and legal aid organisations to support journalists and civic actors facing legal threats.
Haruna Salisu, founder of the fellowship, said the initiative is named after Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, in recognition of his decades-long commitment to public-interest litigation, human rights, and press freedom.
“The absence of specialised legal support leaves journalists exposed and limits pathways for young lawyers interested in public-interest litigation,” the statement reads.
Salisu noted that the decision reflects Falana’s “consistent courage in challenging the misuse of the law to silence dissent” and his role in mentoring generations of rights-focused lawyers.
According to him, the fellowship will operate independently, and will include intensive training, supervised legal practice, and the development of shared legal defence tools to strengthen Nigeria’s media defence ecosystem.
He added that the 12-month pilot phase will focus on specialised training in media law, constitutional and digital rights, and the application of the Cybercrimes Act to journalism.
Salisu said fellows will also help develop a shared legal defence repository and a practical strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) defence cheat sheet for Nigerian lawyers, which will remain publicly accessible beyond the fellowship year.
The organisation said a call for applications will be issued in the coming days for qualified early-career lawyers committed to defending media freedom and civic accountability.
At least 25 journalists were killed in Nigeria in 2025, while 34 were imprisoned and about 20 were held hostage, according to the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ),
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) also reported that 72 journalists were attacked in the country in 2025 through its Press Attack Tracker.
Reports by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and CPJ further indicate that 2025 was one of the deadliest years for journalists globally, with Nigeria continuing to record cases of violence, harassment, and impunity, despite ongoing conversations around new legal protections.
WikkiTimes said the situation is worsened by a gap in Nigeria’s legal ecosystem, where thousands of young lawyers are produced annually but lack practical training and mentorship in media law, digital rights, and SLAPPs.
