Kabir Akanbi, the Chief Registrar of Nigeria’s Supreme Court, has asked journalists who cover the courts to always report in a fair and balanced way. He wants them to be honest and careful when sharing news about the judiciary in Nigeria.
Akanbi said it is important for reporters to protect the good name of the judiciary by giving accurate and well-researched information. This way, the public will trust the courts more.
He made these comments during a meeting with members of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) in Abuja. The group was led by Kayode Lawal from DAILY POST.
The Chief Registrar showed concern about the many unfair and negative stories about the judiciary, especially those spread on social media. He explained that it is wrong to judge the whole judiciary just because a few judges make mistakes.
Most judges in Nigeria are honest, well-educated, and work hard to be fair and just. Akanbi said it is unfair and unpatriotic to label all judges as bad because of a few bad cases.
The few judges who do wrong are being disciplined by the National Judicial Council to keep the judiciary’s good reputation.
Akanbi also warned that some media outlets spread sensational stories just to get attention. These stories hurt Nigeria’s image and make the country look bad to others.
Many reports focus on a few judges who don’t have people to speak for them, so the public quickly believes negative news without checking the facts.
This false reporting causes Nigerians to be unfairly judged in other countries and damages the nation’s reputation.
To improve things, Akanbi asked for better cooperation between judiciary reporters and the courts. He wants a good working relationship so that news about the judiciary is fair and clear.
Kayode Lawal, the NAJUC chairman, thanked Akanbi for meeting them and congratulated him on his new role as Chief Registrar. He said that judiciary reporters act as spokespeople for judges by sharing their decisions with the public.
Lawal also reminded Akanbi of the big responsibility he has leading the Supreme Court and encouraged him to do his best.
He said he believes Akanbi will succeed because of his experience as a lawyer and skilled manager.
The NAJUC chairman promised that reporters will continue to provide honest, objective, and fair news every day.
Barrister Tobi Soniyi, media assistant to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, also spoke during the meeting. He said NAJUC and the Supreme Court have worked well together for a long time and hope to keep this strong relationship.
Top officials from the Supreme Court were present during the visit, showing their support.
