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Kaduna State Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the post election violence at the weekend cautioned journalists against sensational and biased media coverage aimed at undermining its proceedings.
The chairman, Justice Mohammed Bello Lawal, gave this warning at its inaugural public sitting in Kaduna.
He said that “we will listen to all FM radio stations, if we hear anything of contempt, we will not hesitate to charge you for contempt”, and added that the commission has no bias against any one but would insist that journalists uphold the sanctity of the ethics of their profession.
“I expect you to take your own spoon and chop your own food. If you have any problem, go to our secretariat, it is there for you. I am assuring you, if you cannot detach yourselves from acts of contempt, we will give you a good place in the prison and I pray it will not happen.
“For the gentlemen of the press, I don’t know much about you. And maybe you don’t know much about me. This is a Commission of inquiry; it is sitting like a court. And the Commission has power to invite, arrest, and detain any person just like the court.
"We are calling on the fourth estate of the realm to fear God in whatever they do, to have a factual reporting of the proceedings of this Commission of inquiry. I don’t expect the press to come to me or any of the commissioners. Please, be objective, fair and honest. Don’t be sensational to sell your newspapers. I think I have had enough sensational report since I was born”.
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