The Chairman of the Code of Conduct of Tribunal, Danladi Umar, has threatened to imprison journalists who misrepresent proceedings on the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, who is being prosecuted on alleged charges of false and non-declaration of assets.
Umar drop the hint at the beginning of Thursday’s proceedings while reacting to reports in some newspapers who, according to him, distorted the last Monday’s proceedings of the trial.
According to him, any journalist who commits such infraction again might have to remain in prison until his retirement in 28 years’ time. The CCT chairman said: “Henceforth, any journalist carrying concocted or discredited statement which is not adduced before this tribunal, I will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law heavily on the person.
“The journalist will languish there (prison) and may remain there until I retire – that is about 28 years from now.
“The person will be summarily sent to prison because that is contempt.
“It does not matter whether the contempt is committed in facie curiae (before the court) or ex facie curiae (outside the court).”
