S/Court Chief Registrar, Cautions Judiciary Correspondents Against Sensational Reportage

The Chief Registrar, Supreme Court of Nigeria, Kabir Akanbi, has called on judiciary correspondents in the country to always be balanced, fair and objective in reporting activities of the judiciary at all levels in the country.

Specifically, Akanbi charged them to protect the sector’s image and credibility through well-informed, researched, unbiased, and factual reportage of its activities.

Akanbi gave the charge at the weekend in Abuja while playing host to the executive members of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Abuja chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit.

He expressed dismay that reports in public space about the judiciary have been disappointing and uncalled for especially on social media.

Akanbi posited that the entire judiciary sector and judicial officers should not be disrespected, condemned, and rubbished because of the perceived mistakes of the few.

“I make bold to say that majority of judicial officers in the country are men of honour, integrity, highly educated and impeccable characters, who have been discharging their adjudicatory duties without blemish, fear or favour, the Chief Registrar stated.

He submitted that it is very unpatriotic and unfair to label the judiciary, particularly judicial officers, as generally not living up to expectations of Nigerians in terms of dispensation of justice, just because of few lapses.

Most of the reports, according to the Chief Registrar, are targetted at few judicial officers and the Bench because they don’t have information officers or personal assistants that will speak in their defence.

Akanbi, therefore, called for more collaboration between members of NAJUC and the judiciary to foster a cordial working relationship.

Earlier, Chairman of NAJUC, Abuja chapter, Mr Kayode Lawal thanked the Chief Registrar for finding time to play host to Executive members of the Association adding that the visit was mainly to congratulate him on his appointment as the Chief Registrar, Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Mr Lawal told Akanbi that judiciary journalists are the spokespersons for judicial officers through the dissemination of their judgements to the general public, hence, the need to work in harmony.

The NAJUC Chairman expressed optimism that Akanbi would excel in the reverred position, in view of his vast experience and rich background as a thorough bred lawyer, astute administrator and manager of men and resources.

Earlier, Tobi Soniyi, the Special Assistant (Media), to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun had informed the Chief Registrar that NAJUC and the Supreme Court have a long standing relationship and pleaded that the cordiality be upheld and sustained.

Top management members of the apex court were in attendance during the courtesy call.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji