A retired judge of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Ifiok Ukanna, has called on journalists to scrutinise judicial decisions, expose wrongdoing in the justice system and hold the judiciary accountable to the public.
He said the media must not be intimidated from performing its watchdog role.
Mr Ukanna made the call on Wednesday at a symposium on “Effective Crime and Court Reporting: The Role of the Media in the Administration of Justice,” organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, in collaboration with the state judiciary.
The symposium was held at the NUJ Press Centre in Uyo.
He said journalists covering the courts have a responsibility not only to report proceedings but also to inform the public, scrutinise judicial decisions, question the justice process and expose corruption and wrongdoing.
“The journalist whose beat is the court must seek to inform the public, influence public opinion, scrutinise and question judicial decisions, expose corruption and wrongdoing in the judicial process and hold the judiciary accountable to the people,” Mr Ukanna said.
He acknowledged that journalists performing these functions could sometimes become “irritating and annoying” to people within and outside the judiciary, but said such discomfort should not cause reporters to abandon their watchdog responsibilities.
‘Journalists must not walk in fear’
Mr Ukanna said court reporters should not approach their beat with fear of making mistakes or being sanctioned for contempt.
“A reporter must not begin to walk with fear in the court. He must walk with confidence, a confidence that is supported by the knowledge of the system,” he said.
He said the judiciary remains one of the least reported and most misunderstood arms of government and asked both institutions to develop a stronger relationship that would promote openness and public understanding.
“The press and the judiciary must partner to promote better reportage of the judiciary and by so doing create a better understanding by the public of how the judiciary functions,” he said.
He said the absence of information desks in many courts deepened the difficulty of reporting judicial proceedings accurately.
“No information desk in our courts. This absence deepens the mystery of the judicial process. This is a contradiction in a democracy,” he said.
According to him, the courts should recognise that openness benefits not only journalists and the public but also the judiciary itself.
“If nothing is heard or known about what goes on in the judiciary, democracy will suffer a setback. The judiciary itself will be the loser because its importance will be diminished,” he said.
Better access for court reporters
Mr Ukanna urged the judiciary to reserve seats for journalists during trials that attract significant public interest so reporters can hear and see proceedings clearly.
He said journalists sometimes struggle to cover proceedings because of overcrowding in courtrooms, which creates a risk of errors and inaccurate reporting.
He also called for accredited journalists to have easier access to records of proceedings, certified true copies of judgements and rulings.
According to him, access to authentic court records would help prevent misrepresentation and inaccurate interpretation of judicial decisions.
Criticism of judges allowed, but not malicious
Mr Ukanna also addressed the boundaries of media criticism of courts and judges.
Citing Ambard v Attorney-General for Trinidad and Tobago, he said members of the public and the media could criticise judicial acts in good faith.
He, however, cautioned journalists against malicious criticism or reports intended to ridicule the court, bring the judiciary into disrepute or tarnish the image of judges.
He said legitimate criticism of judicial decisions should be fact-based and not motivated by a desire to attack the integrity of judicial officers.
Police commissioner urges verification
The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Azare, called on journalists to verify information before publishing reports, particularly those concerning crime, security and ongoing investigations.
Mr Azare said inaccurate reports could prejudice investigations, damage reputations, endanger lives and interfere with judicial proceedings.
He urged journalists to distinguish among suspects, accused persons, and convicted persons, stressing that an arrest does not constitute guilt.
He also cautioned against trial by media, noting that only a competent court could determine guilt.
‘Everybody can publish, but not everybody can verify’
The Regional Editor of PREMIUM TIMES, South-South and South-East, Cletus Ukpong, said the proliferation of social media had intensified the pressure on journalists to break news quickly.
“Everybody can publish. But not everybody can verify. And that is precisely why journalism still matters,” Mr Ukpong said.
He asked journalists to distinguish among facts, claims, allegations, and inferences, and warned against treating sources’ assertions as facts.
“The journalist’s greatest danger is turning somebody else’s assertion into the journalist’s fact,” he said.
Mr Ukpong also tasked journalists to consider the potential harm to victims, witnesses, children and vulnerable persons before publishing their identities or sensitive details.
NUJ seeks stronger judiciary-media relationship
The Chairman of the NUJ in Akwa Ibom, Nsibiet John, said the symposium was important to deepen journalists’ understanding of the judiciary and strengthen the relationship between the two institutions.
Mr John thanked the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaete Fabian-Obot, for facilitating the symposium.
He described a well-informed and professionally equipped media as an important partner in the administration of justice.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the state, Friday Etim, called on journalists to observe courtroom etiquette and use appropriate legal terminology when reporting proceedings.
He advised reporters to arrive before judges, avoid interrupting proceedings and seek permission before photographing or recording court proceedings.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Christopher Ekong, urged journalists to distinguish arguments by lawyers from judicial findings and avoid presenting allegations as facts.
He also cautioned against sensational headlines and media trials, stressing the importance of accuracy in reporting names, locations, case numbers, statements attributed to lawyers, police claims and judicial decisions.
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