Judge allegedly locks up journalists for taking court photos ‘without authorisation’

Justice Chizoba Orji of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday June 7, allegedly ordered that six journalists be locked up. This occurred shortly after the judge stood down a matter and entered her chambers to prepare a ruling. It was gathered that as the court proceedings were paused, Wunmi Obabori, a reporter with the Africa Independent Television (AIT), tried taking pictures and video footage for her story, but a female registrar of the court stopped her, saying journalists have no right to cover the court. While Obabori tried to explain that journalists could take cut-aways; short videos and pictures, once the court is not in session, the court official immediately summoned a police officer attached to the judge to arrest the reporter. TheCable reported that one Gusar Dauda, a policeman who claimed that he had the authority of the judge, swiftly locked the main gate to the courtroom with a chain, pulled his gun and ordered all the journalists to surrender their phones. Even with the intervention of lawyers and litigants, the police officer and court officials stood their ground that no journalist would leave the courtroom without complying with the order. This reportedly lasted for over an hour.  After the judge re-entered the courtroom, she summoned the AIT reporter to step forward and said;  “Why were you taking pictures and videos in my court? Who gave you the permission to do that?” Obabori responded by saying;  “My lord, I am an accredited judiciary reporter. It is a normal practice for us to take pictures and videos when the court is not sitting, even up to the supreme court.”  The judge however said; “You don’t have such right! If there is such permission, it must be in writing. Who gave you the permission? Show me the authorisation?” As other journalists in the courtroom stood up and took turns to identify themselves, the judge said “I don’t want to hear from any of you". She then turned and asked the AIT reporter "Now, where is the device you used to take the pictures and videos?”  Orji then instructed her orderly to delete all the pictures and videos on the phone, after which she told the court official to unlock the gate and walk all the journalists out of the courtroom. Other reporters who were ordered out are Godwin Tsa of The Sun newspaper, Ikechukwu Nnochiri of Vanguard, Austin Okezie of Raypower FM, Kunle Olasanmi of Leadership, and  Charles Ozoemena.The post Judge allegedly locks up journalists for taking court photos without authorisation appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.