2023 Elections: Media urged to refrain from reporting fake news, hate speech

The Nigerian media has been urged to refrain from fake news, defamation and sedition in their reportage in the build up to the 2023 general elections.

Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami made the call while declaring open a one day media conference organized by the National Association of Judiciary correspondents in Abuja, Nigeria with the theme ‘The Judiciary and 2023 General Elections, the way forward’.

The Attorney General also called on Nigerian Journalists to refrain from defamation, blasphemy, and incitement of inflammatory statements in their reports that could jeopardize the country’s corporate existence as a nation and hamper the peace.

According to him, many public officers in Nigeria, have been victims of malicious media publications due to distortion of facts. He called on journalists to adhere to professionalism and patriotism for the good of the country.

“Many public officers have been victims of malicious media reports, mischievous and deliberate distortion of facts. No doubt, the media is important in shaping public opinion, but hate speech and fake news challenge our cherished and collective culture of peaceful and harmonious co-existence as a people.”

The Attorney General condemned the conduct of some journalists that offer themselves to conscription by agents of destruction and making it their stock in trade to spread fake information about personalities and issues.

The AGF expressed appreciation to judiciary reporters, stressing that their reports culminate into the positive portrayals of the landslide and laudable accomplishments of the Federal Ministry of Justice; the justice sector in general and by extension the Federal Government.

Read: Nigeria’s Attorney General to Declare Judiciary Reporters’ Conference Open

Also, the Executive Secretary, National Judicial Council NJC Mr. Ahmed Gambo Saleh represented by the Mr. Soji Oye said that, the NJC recognizes the role of the media in reporting judicial matters to the Nigerian public and called for the sustenance of the synergy.

Also speaking, the Chairman National Association of Judiciary Correspondents, Mr. Kayode Lawal noted that, the conference was part of concerted efforts in building capacity of judiciary correspondents to enhance their reportorial skills.

Two papers were presented on ‘stemming the tide of conflicting judgements in Nigeria’s judicial system’ and ‘Enforcement of court judgements Departments, the obstacles, the remedies’ by Barristers Ajibolu Afolabi and Abdul Yusuf.

Emmanuel Ukoh