Last Tuesday, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba hosted members of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Ikeja Chapter. ADEBISI ONANUGA reports that the Chief Judge used the platform to talk on some of the issues facing the judiciary.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, last Tuesday hosted members of the National Association of Judicial Correspondents, NAJUC, Ikeja Chapter.
The event took place in his office at the High Court, Ikeja complex.
Need for collaboration, objectivity
He charged all journalists covering court proceedings in Lagos State to see objectivity and thoroughness in the investigation of stories as a virtue. Justice Alogba also implored them to be upright in discharging their duties, while covering court proceedings.
The Lagos CJ said: “In so far as we have something to do with each other, it is absolutely necessary that we collaborate. To my mind, that’s the best way we can both serve the public more effectively because you (journalists) would want to disseminate information about what we are doing.
A publicity shy bench
“I want to start by saying that, traditionally, the bench is a publicity-shy institution. Publicity-shy in the sense that the kind of business that we do isn’t such that we want to tell the whole world except where it’s in the public interest.
“This is because, in most cases, except for criminal matters, what we do relates to personal relationships; be it chieftaincy, land, fundamental human rights, probate or divorce matters. These things mainly arise from interpersonal relationships which have gone sour in one way or the other.
“So naturally, it is not in our place to begin to bring these dirty linen to the public domain freely as some would expect. Except where it becomes very necessary that the public should be aware.
“But even in such cases, the court have to consider so many interests that would be involved. For example, if there are sexual offences being tried and you might think that it is not necessary to protect the alleged offender. But until someone is found guilty, you cannot ascribe guilt to him. So rather, we call him the alleged offender’’.
Why rape victims are protected
“Taking protection of rate victims for an example, if someone is being tried for such an offence and then we allow everyone to prowl on such information, what if, at the end of the day, the man is set free? Everything that has gone out of the public how much can you recall it?
Because now he comes back to the society as a free person but he would have lost a lot about his reputation which could affect so many aspects of his life as well.
“So the court is placed in such a position where it must balance the need for the society to know and also the equal need for those involved in litigations, not just the defendants. It might even be the claimant.
“Take a typical case of rape for example, it might be in the interest of the victim not to have too much publicity, especially in this kind of our country; where initially it would be sympathy but thereafter aspersions.
“So I want you to put that at the back of your minds that when the court isn’t being too free to grant audience in certain cases, it is not out of wanting to cover anything but it is within its inherent jurisdiction to ensure that justice is served to everyone concerned’’.
Court won’t withhold information
“Where it is absolutely necessary for the public to know, the court won’t withhold such neither will journalists be denied access.
“But again, where there is need to protect the interest of the persons involved, in certain cases, we cannot allow journalists to cover or witness it. Especially security matters, or even cybercrime, because a lot of dangerous information would come in. You cannot just throw that to the public. So it’s a balance we must hold delicate considering what is involved.
“But immediately the cases are decided, it becomes public information. Because a judgement is one of the classes of public information that anyone, even aside the litigants, is entitled to have a copy of. ”
Justice Alogba assured that under his watch, information would not be denied any journalist “because I don’t think my predecessors have been doing that and neither would my administration.
“But my promise is that as much information that is allowed by the dictates of our work and the peculiarities of each particular case, then you would definitely have the opportunity to have information”.
Training programme for court reporters
The Lagos CJ also reaffirmed the willingness and readiness of the judiciary to support and collaborate with the association in its trainings and annual lectures.
“ Regarding your request to conduct quarterly meetings, I think we could have this kind of parley twice annually and discuss more. And where you need collaboration of the judiciary in terms of your annual lectures, trainings and conference, we would be very willing to be of assistance or participate.
Truth as a watchword
“But one thing I would like to request of you and what every journalist must take as his watch word is ‘Truth’.
“I will never ask the media to manipulate any information, no matter how bad or good it may appear. This is because any attempt to adjust the truth either by adding or subtraction of information gives it an entirely different effect,” the CJ said.
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