Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja, Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi (rtd), has tasked judiciary correspondents to maintain fair and balanced reportage of judicial proceedings especially in this era when fake news is commonly peddled via the social media.This was expressed, Wednesday, in his keynote address at the opening ofa 2-day workshop organized by the NJI for members of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents, Abuja chapter.According to the Administrator, the participants’ role as judiciary correspondents is portraying the Judiciary in good light directly. Impacts upon public opinion and public confidence.With the theme: “Pursuing Media Service Excellence for Optimal Productivity in the Judiciary” the NJI Administrator urged judiciary reporters to continuously be guided by the dictates and ethics of journalism practice.Abdullahi exuded confidence that regularly abiding with the ethics of the profession will no doubt promote media excellence, which in turn will deepen optimal judicial productivity as the theme stipulates.”It is important that I emphasize the need to remain unbiased as journalists and as judiciary correspondents.”The pen they say is mightier than the sword. You will therefore agree with me that biased reportage would certainly ignite unobjective responses in the polity and this would be at variance with the tenets of a democratic society.”Therefore, the desire to ensure that you are at par with your contemporaries in other climes, in line with best global best practices remains a task that all stakeholders must close ranks to achieve” the NJI Administrator said.Justice Abdullahi reminded participants that the impact of judicial integrity to the growth of public confidence in the Judiciary cannot be overemphasized; as such, the need for judiciary reporters to carefully streamline their reportage to reflect integrity exhibited by judicial officers, which he said, is crucial in promoting public confidence in the Judiciary.The Administrator reiterated that transparency is strengthened by the important role Judiciary reporters play in their reportage of judicialofficers.In his remarks, Secretary of the National Judicial Institute,Abdullazeez Olumo Esq. reminded participants that the of theme of the workshop also applies to the media.While commending judiciary correspondents for the robust relationship existing between them and the NJI, Mr Olumo, however, expressed regret that public perception of the judiciary has not been friendly andcommendable.Mr Olumo submitted that the dwindling and negative public perception of the Judiciary could be attributed to what Nigerians read in mainstream and social media.”The public perception of the Judiciary has not been good enough. The Judiciary has really not been treated fairly by the media” Mr Olumosaid.He explained that most often than not, the public doesn’t understand how the Judiciary works, insisting that the media, particularly judiciary reporters must sensitize the public through their reports rather than dwelling on sensation and biased reportage.According to Olumo, some issues that ought not be in court are litigated upon, and when the litigant fails, the person resorts to making inflammatory remarks against the judiciary because the judgment didn’t go the person’s way.”Evidence, Facts and law play key role in hearing and determination of an issue before the court. When you juxtapose these three issues, and present a good case in court, definitely you will get justice.”What you give to the court is what you get back. The court is not a Father Christmas that gives you what you did not ask of.”The media, especially judiciary correspondents should help to sensitize the public through objective, factual and well informed reportage, so that the negative perception of the Judiciary can be reduced, Olumosaid.”It is only the judiciary Correspondents that can do this and we enjoin you to continue to be objective, unbiased while shunning sensationalism in the discharge of your reportage,” the NJI Secretary stated.On the Institute’s part, Olumo assured that the workshop has come to stay in view of the fact that education is a continuum.”Education is an on going process, and one can only stop learning, when one is dead, Olumo said.He therefore assured that the NJI will continue to educate and trainJudiciary Correspondents through capacity building workshops.Also speaking, Chairman of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents Abuja Chapter, Mr Kayode Lawal, thanked the Administrator of NJI, Justice Garba Abdullahi (rtd) for fulfilling his promise of ensuring that the yearly workshop for Judiciary Correspondents issustained.Lawal confessed that since the inception of the capacity building workshop many years ago, Judiciary Correspondents have become more precise, guided, careful in choice of technical words and objective in reporting the courts.He assured that Judiciary reporters will continue to discharge their duties without fear or favour while at the same time avoid contemptous issues, sensationalism and unbiased reportage.The 1st paper presentation, titled “Reportage of Court in Proceedings:Respect for Victims, Privacies and Presenting the Truth to the Public”was presented by Venerable Tunde Oyesina Esq. of New Telegraph newspaper.
