Court Cautions Journalists On Report Of Proceedings

Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State capital, has threatened to wield the big stick against journalists if they continued to report its proceedings out of context.
Justice Peter Olayiwola said this yesterday while presiding over the matter brought before the court by former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Prince Ken Emekayi, seeking to stop Prof. Charles Soludo, and his deputy, Senator Emma Anosike, from parading themselves as PDP flagbearers in the February 6, 2010 election in the state.
When the matter came up yesterday, council to Soludo and Anosike, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, drew the attention of the court to a recent media report that the judge granted an order during its last sitting, restraining the duo from parading themselves as PDP flagbearers, on order that was not made adding that the court merely asked the applicant to put the respondents on notice and adjourned the matter.
He said “it is high time we cut the Nigerian media to size, my lord. The story however emanated from Abuja not Anambra.”
Justice Alajinola who was apparently bitter with the report educated journalists on how to report court proceedings adding that the media may lose its credibility if journalists continued to file erroneous reports.
“Media practice is a calling. We are partners with the press. We respect you but if you go on like this, I may be tempted to wield the big stick,” he stated.
There were indications of a plan to sort out the differences between the plaintiff and the respondents in the matter out of court, even as it was adjourned to October 27.
PDP National Legal Adviser, Olusola Oke, SAN, said in Akwa yesterday that the possibility of an out of court settlement was being explored by the parties.
The plaintiff, Ken Emekayi said he was not ruling out the option if that would put the PDP house in order and would be ready for any dialogue geared towards achieving unity.