We have been following with keen interest the proceedings of the politically motivated case against our Senior African Consultant on Media, Mr. Tukur Mamu since the case was transferred to another court in Kaduna, Nigeria due to gross injustice and abuse of powers. It is unfortunate that the misconduct of the previous trial judge has manifested again at the chief magistrate court under trial magistrate Rabi Oladoja.
Her ruling of today on a No case Submission forwarded by counsel to Mr. Mamu and considering her conduct during the last stages of the proceedings has confirmed that the judiciary in Nigeria is one institution that can be easily manipulated against the poor.
As a professional journalist that contributed so much to the development of journalism in Nigeria and the continent of Africa as a whole which resulted to his recognition by PRJA as one of its consultants, PRJA will continue to do whatever that is humanly necessary to support our brother and colleague against the machinations of desperate political elite that believed money and political authority can do anything.
Certainly, PRJA no longer has confidence in the impartiality of the trial magistrate Mrs. Rabi T. Oladoja. Privileged information at our disposal and some of the evidences are clear that she has been receiving huge gratification through the Kaduna Sate Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) from the Yobe State Government to do the dirty job. We will submit the details of our findings to the head of the Nigeria’s apex court and we will demand full explanation. It is regrettable that few selfish judicial officers in Kaduna State value gratification as a means of compromise than their cherished profession. They are bent in destroying the good name of the Nigerian judiciary but we will continue to fight for the protection of the rights of every single journalist in Africa. We have already contacted the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) to take joint action on this embarrassing matter.
Before we forward our formal letter to the CJN we urge the Nigerian President Mr. Goodluck Jonathan to do more in protecting and promoting press freedom in Nigeria and to initiate a process that will punish corrupt judges.
Certainly, the ruling of today against Mr. Mamu cannot stand the test of time because PRJA believes that in the Nigerian judiciary there are still men and women of proven integrity that will never allow their honour and hard earned refutation to be compromise at whatever cost.
Signed:
Prof. John Nkunnu
Secretary General
Protection Right Of Journalists Of Africa
(PRJA)
