Last week, National Judicial Institute (NJI) organized a two-day training workshop for judiciary correspondents in Abuja, where the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, disclosed that the country’s judiciary had come of its cocoon in line with modern realities. The workshop which was the first of its kind being organized by the institute for reporters; saw the presentation of papers by resource persons. AMEH EJEKWONYILO reports
Justice Mahmud Mohammed said that media reportage of pending cases in court was no longer seen as satanic invasion or demonic invasion. While declaring open the two-day workshop with the theme: “Promoting Understanding between the Judiciary” and the Press”, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) for members of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondent (NAJUC), Abuja chapter, the CJN described the relationship between the judiciary and the media as cordial unlike what we used to have in the past.
Justice Muhammed said, “The role the press has played and is still playing in enthroning integrity, probity and transparency in the judiciary can neither be underestimated nor over emphasized. Gone are the days of acrimonious relationship between the Judiciary and the Press. The relationship between the Judiciary and the Press was not clearly delineated. What judiciary had on the ground were only restrictive prescriptions for giving out information from the Judiciary or the Courts.
He averred: “It is imperative that the conduct of the affairs of the judiciary should be brought to the full knowledge of the environment which it serves through informed formal media participation as is the case with other organs of the governmental framework. The participation of the press in the judiciary affairs creates a healthy environment for the human elements in the judiciary to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinion and to receive and impart ideas and information without let or hindrance as guaranteed by section 39 (1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”
The CJN explained that the role of press in dissemination of information relating to the judiciary was a service not only to the judiciary but to the entire Nigerian citizenry. “This is because public perception of the judiciary as a service component of the state system depends largely on the media presentation.
“The fact that the Judiciary and the Press have not fashioned out a mode of interaction or co-operation has given impetus to the new efforts and the new thinking towards the media in their reportage of judicial proceedings.
“Most judges and Justices now court the Press for self-projection. Media reportage of pending cases in Courts are no longer seen as satanic invasion or demonic intrusion, they are now welcome”.
Justice Mohammed noted that the training was timely as it would afford the participants the opportunity of being schooled in the terminologies that are associated with judicial reporting. “This workshop is most relevant and at the right time. Those who report the activities of the judiciary should be properly schooled in the nuances of and usages in the judiciary. The lessens the participants will learn in this workshop will help them to do their work better.
Similarly, the Administrator of the institute, Justice Roseline Bozimo, organiser of the workshop in her opening address said the training workshop was put together to assist judicial reporters to discharge their duties accurately and dexterously.
“Any deficiency on the part of the participants which occasions inaccurate reporting or improper understanding of the judicial proceedings, will damage the reputation and integrity of the judiciary”, Justice Bozimo said.
She described court reporters as spokesmen of the judiciary, adding that they assisted in exposing the poor funding of the judiciary.
She further said: “They (journalists) should be courted as friends and not despised as enemies. They deserve collaboration with the judiciary, not absolute disconnection.
The judiciary should forge a healthy co-operation with the participants. Unnecessary acrimony and friction will be very unhealthy for the integrity of the judiciary and its officers and staff. Any negative activity of the participants against the judiciary will create grave consequences.”
The NJI boss explained that the role of judiciary correspondents in promoting continuing judicial education and uniformity must be properly understood and appreciated. “That being the case the participants deserve to be properly trained not only on journalism matters but on the judicial processes on which they report.”
Bozimo added that any deficiency on the part of the participants which occasions inaccurate reporting or improper understanding of the judicial proceedings would damage the reputation and integrity of the judiciary.
“In addition to the above, it is the regular reports of the participants that put the judicial officers and staff on their toes. It is their reports that expose corruption and unwholesome conducts within the system”, Bozimo submitted.
The first day of the workshop featured two paper presentations. The first paper was on “Hierarchy and Jurisdiction of Courts. The presenter, Mr. Christopher Ogundare who is an Assistant Research Fellow at the institute, said the judiciary like all judiciaries worldwide, “is an organic and living institution that is subject to change”, adding that a virile judiciary is a veritable instrument of checks and balances in any system.
He disclosed that where the judiciary is denied its independence and resources, then it necessarily becomes “susceptible to diseases such as bribery, poverty, lack of infrastructure and compromised morals.
On the second day of the training, Mrs. Uzoefuna Ifeoma who presented a paper on contempt of court and contempt of court proceedings, observed that the court and the press are expected to appreciate each other’s part in protecting the rights of the public by ensuring that the administration of justice is not in any way obstructed.
“For it is in the paramount interest of the public that the authority and dignity of the court are not put at risk or disrepute hindering the confidence in resorting to them”, Uzoefuna said.
She further said: “A journalist is not allowed to make assumptions on what the evidence of a witness or what the ruling of a court is likely to be or give a detailed report on the evidence of a witness or describe the demeanor of a witness or the reaction of a judge while taking evidence.”
