ETHICAL CHALLENGE OF UNDERCOVER REPORTING IN INVESTIGATE JOURNALISM NIGERIA

This study examines the ethical challenges inherent in undercover reporting within the landscape of investigative journalism in Nigeria. While undercover tactics—such as the use of hidden cameras, assumed identities, and digital surveillance—have led to landmark exposures in the Nigerian judicial, educational, and security sectors, they simultaneously raise significant ethical dilemmas regarding deception, privacy, and the "public interest" justification. Using a [insert methodology, e.g., qualitative or descriptive] research design, this paper analyzes the conflict between the journalists' duty to reveal the truth and the ethical codes of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). The findings suggest that while undercover reporting remains an indispensable tool for uncovering systemic corruption where traditional methods fail, it is often hampered by a lack of legal protection for whistleblowers and a thin line between investigation and entrapment. The study concludes that for investigative journalism to maintain its integrity in Nigeria, practitioners must strictly adhere to the principle of "last resort"—ensuring that deceptive methods are employed only when all other avenues of inquiry have been exhausted and the potential public benefit outweighs the ethical breach. Keywords: Undercover Reporting, Investigative Journalism, Media Ethics, Nigeria, Public Interest, Deception, Journalism Code of Conduct.