Tribunal: It Will Not Do The Court Any Good If They Ban Journalists From Taking In Gadgets – Ughegbe

Lemmy Ughegbe, a journalist, has urged the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to revisit the ban on phones and other electronic gadgets in the courtroom while proceedings are ongoing.  Continue Full Reading>>>

While speaking in an interview with AIT, Ughegbe said that the implication of this ban could threaten the image of the court. He noted that many journalists in the courtroom need their gadgets to provide live updates on the proceedings, adding that the ban could stop this from happening and it could spark mixed reactions from Nigerians.

However, he noted that some lawyers are abusing the privilege of taking phones into the courtroom, adding that the court should instead warn against the unauthorized use of gadgets to record the proceedings.  Continue Full Reading>>>

“I dare say that some lawyers are doing a lot of recordings that they shouldn’t do but the administration of the court will imagine that it is journalists doing it.

When journalists are in court, they are reporting directly on their laptops and phones and transmitting. So if you are asking journalists not to be with their gadgets, the implication is that the public will be deprived of real-time information.

The court has the authority to say ‘Don’t come in with gadgets’ but it will not do the court any good if they ban journalists from taking in their gadgets.

The image and public perception of the court could be threatened by this. They are doing well already and they should continue to do well by revisiting the decision.”