CNN, Politico, Other Sue Trump Over White House Press Ban

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have sued the administration of US President Donald Trump after their journalists were barred from the White House and their press credentials revoked.
Eereporter.com

The three media organisations announced the legal action on Monday, saying they were seeking to restore their access to the White House and protect their First Amendment rights.

ABC News, in a report published on Monday, September 21, initially reported that the three outlets planned to file a First Amendment lawsuit against the government that day.

However, Reuters reported later on Monday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico had filed the lawsuit against the Trump administration.

The development followed Trump’s decision on Friday to bar the three outlets from the White House, accusing them of reporting what he described as “FICTION and LIES” about him, his administration and the United States.

In a joint statement published by CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Monday, the outlets said, “This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes.”

The statement added, “Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference.”

Reuters reported on Monday that the lawsuit followed Trump’s announcement that the three organisations would be banned from the White House grounds.

Reporters from the three outlets were turned away from the White House on Saturday, September 19, after the ban was announced.

Reuters reported that the journalists’ press passes were confiscated when they attempted to enter the White House.

Online media had earlier reported on Friday, September 18, that Trump announced the ban against CNN, MS NOW and Politico, accusing them without specifics of reporting “fiction and lies.”

CNN, in a statement carried by PUNCH Online on Friday, described the proposed ban as an “illegal assault” on its constitutional right to journalism without government interference.

CNN said its reporting was “fair and accurate” and protected under the US Constitution.

At an Oval Office event after the post, Trump told reporters that he supported a free press but wanted what he called a “fair and honest press.”

“It’s sick. I mean, there’s something wrong with a country that can allow people to write purposely negative stuff. Now, if they want to write them, that’s fine. But I don’t have to let them into my, into the people’s house,” Trump said.

The White House ban was enforced on Saturday, when reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied entry to the complex.

ABC News reported on Saturday that reporters from the three organisations had been denied access following Trump’s announcement.

The Associated Press also reported that the reporters’ credentials were confiscated after they arrived at the White House.

The lawsuit now places the dispute over media access before a federal court, with the three news organisations seeking to challenge the government’s decision to exclude their journalists from the White House.

CBS News reported on Saturday that two MS NOW staffers were turned away from the White House, with their press passes revoked.

The dispute comes as Trump has repeatedly criticised news organisations over their coverage of his administration and has threatened to extend restrictions to other media outlets.

President Trump

Reuters reported on Monday that the White House had also removed CNN from its scheduled Monday assignment as the television pool representative for the White House press corps.

CNN had been scheduled to serve as the primary television pool network on Monday and accompany Trump to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, according to the report.

The legal action by the three organisations follows their reporters’ exclusion from the White House and the revocation of their credentials without prior notice, according to their joint statement.
Eereporter.com

Nigerian Navy chief urges cadets to uphold democratic values

The chief of training (Nigerian Navy), Abdulrasheed Haruna, has charged passing-out cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy to uphold democratic values and safeguard Nigeria’s national interests.
Eereporter.com

Mr Haruna delivered the charge at the Beating of the Retreat and Prize-Giving Ceremony for the 2025/2026 training session at the RSM Oliver Nzalgana Parade Ground, Afaka, Kaduna, according to a statement on Friday.

He urged the cadets to remain vigilant, disciplined and committed to their professional responsibilities as they prepare for commissioning into the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Mr Haruna commended the NDA for its sustained commitment to excellence and its role in producing highly trained officers capable of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He urged the cadets to contribute meaningfully to addressing evolving security challenges in Nigeria and allied nations, stressing that their future responsibilities would require discipline, vigilance and unwavering commitment to duty.

Mr Haruna also reminded the cadets of the importance of remaining faithful to the constitutional and democratic values they were expected to uphold as military professionals. He described the event as an age-long military tradition that celebrates the resilience, discipline and achievements of military personnel.

He encouraged battalions that did not win trophies during the training year to draw inspiration from their colleagues’ achievements and use the experience to motivate greater accomplishments in future competitions.

The commandant of the NDA, Oluyemi Olatoye, reaffirmed the academy’s commitment to producing officers who were physically fit, mentally sound and morally upright.

Nigerian Navy

Mr Olatoye said the ceremony provided an opportunity to reflect on military traditions while celebrating achievements recorded during the 2025/2026 training year. He urged the graduating cadets to uphold the values acquired at the Academy and let them guide their character, discipline, and professional conduct throughout their military careers.

Mogadishu Battalion emerged as champion battalion after securing five trophies in various competitions during the 2025/2026 training cycle. Collito Company emerged as the champion company in Ashanti Battalion competitions.

Individual cadets were also honoured for outstanding performances in drills, sports, judo, taekwondo and other military activities.
Eereporter.com

TCN Successfully Repairs Four Vandalised Power Lines in Rivers

The Transmission Company of Nigeria has commenced the rehabilitation of four transmission tow vandalised along the Afam-IPP-Elelenwo 132kV Double-Circuit Transmission Line.
Eereporter.com

TCN disclosed this in a statement signed by its management on Monday, noting that the affected towers were discovered during an inspection by its engineers from the Port Harcourt Region.

The affected structures, identified as Towers T50 to T53, were vandalised after their tower members were removed and carted away.

The latest incident is the fifth reported vandalism attack on the same transmission line in recent times.

According to the statement, the vandalism was discovered on August 6, 2026, after the company’s engineers inspected the line.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is currently rehabilitating four towers vandalised along the Afam-IPP-Elelenwo 132kV Double-Circuit Transmission Line. The incident was discovered on August 6, 2026, by the company’s lines engineers from the Port Harcourt Region,” TCN’s statement partly read.

The company identified the affected structures as Towers T50 to T53, saying their tower members had been removed and taken away.

“Towers T50 to T53 were affected, with their tower members removed and carted away,” the statement added.

“This is the fifth vandalism attack on the same line in recent times,” the company continued.

The transmission company said rehabilitation work was ongoing, while urging stakeholders to support efforts to prevent further attacks on transmission infrastructure.

“As rehabilitation work progresses, we enjoin all stakeholders to join hands to curb the menace that is threatening the stability of the national grid”, TCN concluded.

TCN

The Afam-IPP-Elelenwo line forms part of the transmission infrastructure used to move electricity within the power network in the Niger Delta region.

Damage to transmission towers can disrupt the ability of the network to safely and reliably transmit generated electricity, making the protection and maintenance of such infrastructure important to grid stability.

TCN’s latest rehabilitation effort comes amid continuing concerns over the vulnerability of electricity infrastructure to vandalism, with the company relying on inspections, maintenance and rehabilitation to restore damaged transmission facilities and sustain the reliability of the national grid.
Eereporter.com