During Muhammadu Buhari’s military regime, he attempted to stifle criticism. Journalists were harassed, and many critics were arrested. The government of Buhari made no pretence of its intention to censor the media. In an interview with SUNDAY CONCORD, Buhari was explicit that he would tamper with freedom of the press. According to THE COMMUNICATOR (1985), he was reported to have been particularly irked by the role the press played in the N2.3 billion oil money controversy when he was the Minister of Petroleum Resources. Shortly after, his administration enacted the Public Officers Protection Against False Accusation Decree No.4, by 1984.
