NUJ says CCT Chairman’s threat to imprison journalists for coverage of Onnoghen trial is ’empty’

The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has reacted to the threat by the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, to imprison journalists who misrepresent the ongoing proceedings on the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The NUJ on Friday described the CCT Chairman’s threat as “vague and empty,” adding that Umar has no powers to imprison journalists carrying out their official assignment.

Danladi Umar had made the threat in reaction to what he described as some newspapers’ distortion and misrepresentation of Monday’s court proceedings.

Umar warned that any journalist who commits such infraction again might have to remain in prison until his retirement in 28 years’ time.

READ ALSO: APC group lobby Buhari, Tinubu not to recommend Ajimobi for any political post

In his words, “Henceforth, any journalist carrying concocted or discredited statement which is not adduced before this tribunal, I will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law heavily on the person.

“The journalist will languish there (prison) and may remain there until I retire – that is about 28 years from now. The person will be summarily sent to prison because that is contempt. It does not matter whether the contempt is committed in facie curiae (before the court) or ex facie curiae (outside the court),” he said.

However, the chairman of NUJ, Abuja chapter, Emmanuel Ogbeche, dismissed the CCT chairman’s threat and asked journalists to continue to discharge their duties without fear or favour.

“It is unfortunate, what is ascribed to the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar. I do not think any journalists is misrepresenting the proceedings of the court as alleged by Justice Umar,” Mr Ogbeche said.

“He lacks the powers to send any journalist to prison for carrying out their constitutional duties to the nation. Just as the judge is carrying out his official duties, journalists are also constitutionally empowered to report what is going on in the courtrooms,” he said.

Mr Ogbeche warned judges not to attempt to make journalists scapegoats in the show of power between the executive and judiciary.

He said the union will mobilise its members and the international groups to resist any attempt to intimidate or trample upon the rights of media practitioners.

“We will mobilise and resist all attempts to intimidate journalists. They will not be made scapegoats in the political and judicial drama in Nigeria,” Mr Ogbeche said.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now