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The Editor of Daily Independent,
Ikechukwu Amaechi, has replaced the executive director, publications of
The Punch Newspapers, Azubuike Ishiekwene, on the Panel of Judges for
the 2010 CNN MultiChoice African Journalists Awards.

NEXT could not confirm reports that Mr.
Ishiekwene, who was the chairperson of the panel of judges of the 2009
edition of the awards, might have been removed due to the allegation of
fraud levelled against him by the former editor of The Punch, Steve
Ayorinde.

The Punch’s Management is currently investigating the allegations.

A tough one

In a telephone interview, Gbenga
Adefaye, chairman of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, commended Mr.
Ameachi’s appointment, describing him and other Nigerians who had been
members of the panel as “worthy members of the guild.” He also said
that Mr. Amaechi’s appointment is “a judgement on the quality of
journalism coming out of Nigeria”.

However, when asked to react to the
replacement of Mr. Ishiekwene, Mr. Adefaye called it a “tough one.”
According to him, “The panel of judges of the CNN award is an
independent body with its own rules for appointment and engagement of
members of board and these rules and procedures I’m not familiar with.”

He explained since the Nigerian Guild
of Editors is not privy to these rules and procedures, it will be
difficult for it to say for sure why Mr. Ishiekwene was removed.

Though he allowed that the removal
“might be remotely connected to the on-going allegation against Azu,”
he also said it might mean nothing, recalling that Doyin Abiola, former
managing director of the defunct Concord Newspapers, used to be a
member of the panel of judges of the awards but Mr. Ishiekwene was
invited to serve on the panel after she vacated her position on the
panel.

Attempts to speak with Messrs
Ishiekwene and Amaechi did not succeed. Mr. Ishiekwene answered our
call, but did not say a word after our reporter introduced himself and
the reason for his call. Mr. Amaechi could not be reached on the phone,
although one of his associates at the Daily Independent said he
travelled to the east.

New panelists

Mr. Amaechi, who holds a masters degree
in International Journalism from the University of Cardiff, United
Kingdom started his journalism career with The Guardian and has worked
for publications such as The News, Tempo and PMNews.

On arrival from the United Kingdom in 2007, he was appointed the Editor of the Daily Independent.

According to the list of the judges
published on the CNN website for the prestigious awards, other members
of the panel are José Luís Mendonça, Press Counsellor to the Angolan
Permanent Delegation to UNESCO; Zipporah Musau, managing editor for
Magazines, The Standard Group Ltd Kenya, Joel Kibazo, journalist and
media consultant; Jean-Paul Gérouard, deputy editor-in-chief, France 3
TV; Arlindo Lopes, secretary general, Southern African Broadcasting
Association; FerialHaffajee, editor-in-chief, City Press, South Africa
and Kim Norgaard, CNN Bureau Chief, South Africa.

The Awards are in their fifteenth year and this year’s edition will take place in Kampala, Uganda in May.