The Chief Registrar of Nigeria’s Supreme Court, Barrister Kabir Akanbi, has cautioned judiciary correspondents to maintain balance, fairness, and objectivity in reporting judicial activities. He emphasized the importance of protecting the judiciary’s image and credibility through well-researched, unbiased, and factual reporting.
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 from the 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.
Barrister Akanbi 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 argued 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, 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.
“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, Akanbi argued.
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.
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 Barrister 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.
He reminded the Chief Registrar 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.
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.
Mr Lawal assured the Chief Registrar of NAJUC’s resolve to be factual, objective and fair in their day to day reportage of the Judiciary.
Also speaking at the event, Barrister Tobi Soniyi, Special Assistant (Media) to the CJN, reaffirmed the long-standing relationship between the Supreme Court and NAJUC, urging that the cordiality be maintained.
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