Press Release|

….I PRAY FOR A GLORIOUS END – MALAMI

The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (HAGF) Abubakar Malami SAN, has said that his Tenure in office had not yet ended.

HONOURABLE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, ABUBAKAR MALAMI SAN, DELIVERING KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE 2021 MEDIA CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENTS IN ABUJA ON THURSDAY 17TH MARCH, 2022.

He disclosed this on Thursday 17th March, 2022 in Abuja at the 2021 Media Conference, organized by the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) titled-‘The Judiciary and 2023 General elections: the way forward’.

In his Keynote address, Malami who commended NAJUC said he was not unaware that members of the Judiciary Correspondents have been contributing tremendously to nation building through their constant reportage of the activities of the Federal Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders in the dispensation of justice in the country.

HONOURABLE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, ABUBAKAR MALAMI SAN, (4TH LEFT), CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENTS ABUJA, MR KAYODE LAWAL (3RD RIGHT) AND OTHER DIGNITARIES AT THE CONFERENCE.

The Honorable Minister who informed that, there was naturally an end to everything and that his tenure in office had not yet ended, opine that unprofessional media practitioners have been reporting untrue and fabricated information against public office holders.

“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”. He emphasized.

“You are journalists in the Nigerian Justice Sector because Nigeria exists as an entity. We cannot afford to spill the beans on account of mischievous actions and inactions of some who claim to be journalists” he cautioned.

He further declared that “Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice always insists on due diligence, assiduous scrutiny as well as beyond-reasonable-doubt exploration and meticulous examinations in its policy to bequeath the posterity a sound and impeccable precedents in determination of issues”.

He therefore called on journalists to refrain from fake news, defamation, sedition, hate speech, blasphemy, incitements and inflammatory statements in their reportage capable of jeopardizing the corporate existence of Nigeria as a nation.

Malami who believed It is high time to enhance media literacy for Nigerians to appreciate fact-checking and verification of information opined that, “the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice awaits the recommendations of the Conference in order to key-into factors brought forward in enhancing vertical and horizontal integration in the process of making people-oriented policies in the country”.

The Special Guest of Honour and the Executive Secretary, National Judicial Council, Ahmed Gambo Saleh Esq. represented by the Director of Information of the Council, Mr. Soji Oye, in his address noted that the current administration of the Council and the Nigerian Judiciary in General places much premium on relationships with the media.

 “We recognize the place of the media not only in the dissemination of information about our functions but also in educating the public regarding the rationale behind some of our decisions especially pertaining to critical matters such as appointment and discipline of judicial officers”. Gambo asserted.

He showered encomiums on NAJUC members saying, “You have always displayed great understanding of issues you report about, covering the activities of the judiciary with utmost professionalism, candor and patriotism”.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Mr. Kayode Lawal explained the importance of training and acquisition of more knowledge by members of the association in their coverage of the judiciary activities.

Lawal further explained that the theme for 2021 conference implied that judiciary correspondents cannot afford to lag behind considering the challenges of the 2023 General Elections and the attendants court cases that would follow.

While appealing for more Justices to be appointed to the supreme court of Nigeria to fill vacancies created by retirements and deaths, the chairman used the opportunity to make a case for increased budgetary allocation to the judiciary.

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