The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mr Kabir Akanbi has called on members of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) to ensure balanced, fair and objective in reporting.
Akanbi made the call while receiving the Executive members of NAJUC Abuja chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit.
He also them to protect the sector’s image and credibility through well informed, researched, unbiased and factual reportage of its activities.
He expressed dismay that reports in public space about the judiciary have been disappointing and uncalled for especially from the social media.
Akanbi said 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 the 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.
“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 a few lapses,” he said.
He noted that the few identified bad eggs are being called to order through the instrumentality of the National Judicial Council so as to maintain the sacred duty of the arm of the government.
He said that dishing out sensational reports by some media houses, especially social media in a bid to gain attention and visibility, only end up robbing off on the reputation of Nigeria as a country.
“Most of the reports are targeted at few judicial officers and the Bench because they don’t have information officers, or personal assistants that will speak in their defence.
“When these reports are reeled out to the public without proper fact checking, the public always believed, and at the end of the day, it is Nigeria as a country that has her name dragged into the mud’’.
He insisted that some of the reports tend to portray the country in bad image and have exposed Nigeria and Nigerians to ridicule and unfair treatment in some foreign countries.
Earlier, the Chairman of NAJUC, Abuja chapter, Mr Kayode Lawal thanked the Chief Registrar for finding time to play host to the Executive members of the association adding that the visit was mainly to congratulate him on his appointment as the Chief Registrar.
Lawal reminded Akanbi that judiciary correspondents are also the spokespersons for judicial officers through the dissemination of their judgments to the general public, hence, the need to work in harmony.
He also reminded him of the enormous tasks as he spearheads the administrative leadership of the apex court and charged him to justify the trust and confidence reposed in him with the appointment.
Lawal expressed optimism that Akanbi would excel in the revered position, in view of his vast experience and rich background as a thorough bred lawyer, astute administrator and manager of men and resources.
He assured the Chief Registrar of NAJUC’s resolve to be factual, objective and fair in their day to day reportage of the Judiciary.
Mr 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. (NAN)
