The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council, has described as unfortunate the dragging of the state Vanguard Newspaper correspondent, Demola Akinyemi, to court over a publication about the Iyaloja (woman leader) of Oja Tuntun market, Mrs Maryam Arolahun, five months ago.
The state NUJ chairman, Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, lamented that media practitioners are not duly appreciated in Nigeria.
He said: “When a matter is before a competent court of jurisdiction, you need to tread softly on what to say. But it is painful and unfortunate that this matter would take this route, instead of areas of possibility to get it resolved.”
He, however, hinted that the council had swung into action by involving the Chairman of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Kamaldeen Gambari, and was exploring other avenues “for out-of-court settlement.”
He added: “No amount of intimidation would make journalists in Kwara compromise.”
Also, the state correspondents’ chapel chairman, AbdulHakeem Garba, urged Nigerians to appreciate the media and its practitioners more by exploring their “right to reply” including retractions, “rather than dragging the societal protectors and watchdogs to courts at every opportunity”.
Akinyemi was arraigned before Magistrate Balkis Baraje at the Revenue Court in Ilorin on Wednesday, over alleged criminal conspiracy, defamation and falsehood filed by Arolahun, who cited a publication in the paper’s online medium, titled ‘Kwara market women threaten to protest naked over colleague’s mysterious death’.
According to the story published on January 30, the nominal complainant allegedly had an altercation with another trader, Medinat at the same market over a shop allocated by the authorities of Ilorin West Local Council. Thereafter, the co-trader died mysteriously.
The police, represented by Corporal Abdulraheem Musa, told the court not to grant the defendant bail, saying the police had not concluded investigations, and that the defendant might jump bail.
He said in the event that the court decides to grant the defendant bail, stringent conditions should be attached.
But counsel to the defendant, A. C. Okafor and H. A. Musa, argued that the offence for which Akinyemi was arraigned in court “is minor,” assuring that he would not jump bail.
After listening to the submissions of both parties, the Magistrate granted Akinyemi N500,000 bail bond with two sureties in like sum, one of which must be a close relation to the defendant.
He adjourned till May 20, for hearing.
