Tunde Thompson is a legendary Nigerian journalist and a living symbol of the struggle for media independence. He is most famous for being one of the two journalists (alongside Nduka Irabor) jailed in 1984 under the notorious Decree No. 4, a draconian law promulgated by the military regime of then-Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari.
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Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Tunde Thompson |
| Born | c. 1950s |
| Known For | Jailed under Decree No. 4 (1984) for a story on diplomatic postings. |
| Newspaper | The Guardian (Nigeria) |
| Legacy | A central figure in the history of Nigerian press freedom. |
| Status in 2026 | Respected veteran journalist and media consultant. |
The Decree 4 Landmark Case (1984)
The “Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor Case” remains a watershed moment in West African journalism.
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The Offense: In early 1984, Thompson and Irabor published a report in The Guardian regarding the reorganization of Nigeria’s diplomatic service and impending military postings abroad.
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The Law: Under Decree No. 4 (Public Officers Protection Against False Publications), it was a criminal offense to publish any report that “embarrassed” a public officer, even if the report was factual.
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The Sentence: Thompson and Irabor were arrested in February 1984. They famously refused to reveal their sources, a point of professional honor that became a rallying cry for the media. On July 4, 1984, they were sentenced to one year in prison; The Guardian was also fined 50,000 naira.
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Release: They were released early in 1985, shortly before Buhari’s regime was toppled by Ibrahim Babangida.
The “Forgiveness” and Political Turn (2015)
In a move that surprised many observers, Tunde Thompson became a vocal supporter of Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 presidential elections.
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Campaign Support: Thompson joined the media team of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to help elect the man who had previously jailed him.
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The Reconciliation: On May 5, 2015, President-elect Buhari met with Thompson at the Defence House in Abuja. Buhari praised him for his “uncommon motivation” and for rising above the past, characterizing the 1984 jailing as one of the “challenges of that period.”
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Thompson’s Stance: He famously stated that “time is a healer” and that he bore no personal grudge, choosing to prioritize what he believed was the necessary political change for Nigeria at the time.
Current Status (January 2026)
As of January 2026, Tunde Thompson is regarded as an elder statesman of the Nigerian media.
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Media Advocacy: He continues to be a vocal critic of any legislative attempts to “muzzle” the press. In late 2025 and early 2026, following the passing of Muhammadu Buhari, Thompson has been frequently interviewed for historical documentaries reflecting on the “Golden Era” of Nigerian journalism in the 1980s.
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The Irabor Connection: He remains closely associated with his former colleague Nduka Irabor. In April 2025, they were seen together at a high-profile media reunion in Lagos, where they were honored for their roles as “martyrs of the pen.”
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Consultancy: He remains active as a media consultant and is often cited by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as a prime example of the importance of protecting confidential sources.