Veteran journalist and Deputy Editor at Guardian Newspapers, Joseph Onyekwere has charged Nigerian judiciary to embrace electronic new media tools in recording court proceedings in real-time.
He gave the advise in his paper titled, ‘Reporting Judicial Matters Using New Media’ delivered at Society of Digital Newspaper Owners of Nigeria (SDNON’s) monthly New Media Round Table held on Friday.
According to Onyekwere, although there are no known laws forbidding such practices, judges barring reporters with such media tools over the years, have made it set in stone. And anyone found wanting could be charged with contempt of court.
Onyekwere who reiterated that it is standard practice in other jurisdictional climes, cited South Africa as example where the new media was deployed during live trail of Oscar Pistorius, the country’s ex-amputee sprinter, who shot and killed his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
“Using new media to report judicial matters in my view is a product of legislation. This is because the judiciary is very conservative in Nigeria and is yet to reform to such a point where electronic gadgets are permitted into the courts.
“To report court proceedings, you have to be inside the court. The use of recording devices is not allowed inside the court.
“The use of videos and cameras are not allowed inside the court. Although there is no known law against such practices, judges, barring them over the years, eventually turned it to a convention. It got stuck, such that all judges don’t allow or permit anyone, including journalists or bloggers to record or video proceedings live.
“You could be cited for contempt of court, if you do so. Section 7 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State invested powers on judges to summarily convict anyone in contempt of court. The punishment is discretional.
“But in other jurisdictions such as South Africa, new media are highly deployed.
“Many of us watched live proceedings of the trial of Oscar Pistorius, the country’s ex-amputee sprinter, who shot and killed his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. The entire proceeding was televised live from the beginning to the end. In my view, that is the way to go,” he enlightened,” he stated.
Onyekwere advised SDNON to push for reform in the Nigeria’s judicial system in Nigeria to accommodate live coverage of court proceedings as well as advocate for total judicial automation in Nigeria.
The ‘Media Round Table’ is a monthly initiative of SDNON, led by Veteran Journalist, Otunba Femi Davies where established media practitioners are hosted to advance conversations in favour of the industry.
