The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, has demanded an investigation and disciplinary action against Magistrate Godwin Edemekong following the alleged humiliation and forcible ejection of journalists from a court in Uyo.
The union also demanded a public explanation and an unreserved apology from the magistrate regarding the incident, which has raised concerns about justice, press freedom and transparency in judicial proceedings.
The demands were contained in a statement issued on Friday by the state secretary of the union, Nsikak Esenowo.
PREMIUM TIMES reported allegations by investigative journalist Ibanga Isine and two other journalists that Mr Isine, as the complainant in the case, was barred from the court and other journalists were barred from covering proceedings in a criminal case involving a herder, Abdullahi Yusuf, at Magistrate Court 7, Fulga Street, Uyo.
In its statement, the NUJ accused Mr Edemekong, his court clerk and police officers attached to the court of obstructing journalists who were lawfully covering proceedings in the case between the commissioner of police and Mr Yusuf.
The union alleged that journalists were “arbitrarily barred, harassed, and forcibly ejected from an open court” despite the public interest surrounding the matter.
“The courtroom is not the private chambers of any judicial officer,” the statement said.
According to the NUJ, the incident amounted to an assault on the principles of open justice, transparency and press freedom guaranteed under Sections 22 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution.
“A judiciary that operates in secrecy and hostility to the press cannot claim legitimacy in a democracy,” the union said.
The NUJ demanded that Mr Edemekong publicly disclose the legal basis for excluding journalists from the proceedings.
It also called for a formal apology to the affected journalists, their media organisations and the union.
The organisation further asked the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaette Fabian-Obot, and the National Judicial Council to investigate the incident and impose appropriate sanctions.
“The NUJ will not tolerate the creeping culture of gagging the press in the temples of justice,” the statement said.
“Any attempt to conduct judicial proceedings shrouded in secrecy will be resisted through all lawful means.”
The union stressed that journalists perform a constitutional duty by informing the public and scrutinising public institutions, including the courts.
“The rule of law dies in darkness. The press must be allowed to shine light into every courtroom without fear or favour,” it added.
PREMIUM TIMES visited the court on Friday to seek clarifications from Mr Edemekong.
By the time the newspaper arrived at Court 7, the courtroom was closed even though proceedings were ongoing in other courts within the complex.
Requests for the official record of Thursday’s proceedings and the court’s position on the allegations from the assistant chief registrar of the court were not obliged. The assistant registrar asked this newspaper to return on Monday to meet Mr Edemekong and the clerk of court 7.
