Wike Slams Media for Biased Reporting on Judicial Matters
In a powerful media chat in Abuja, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, expressed strong criticism of media organizations that he believes engage in biased reporting on judicial matters. The Minister particularly pointed to selective media coverage that targets judges and their decisions when those rulings do not align with certain political interests.
Wike condemned the sensationalized portrayal of judges, highlighting a trend where media outlets, such as Arise TV, selectively report judgments that are unfavorable to certain parties. He said, “When I see what happens, how media will be scrolling images of judges, claiming that judges collected bribes… Even if somebody gives you that news item, assuming someone pays you for it, can you do that in a civilized country?”
According to Wike, the media’s double standard becomes especially apparent when the court rulings favor particular political views. “I’m happy the day the court gives them judgment – democracy, rule of law. But the day the court doesn’t, they claim the judges took bribes. Arise TV is often the first to spread this narrative.”
The Minister stressed the damage this kind of reporting does to the integrity of the judiciary and democracy, warning that it undermines the judicial system by creating an atmosphere of distrust and dishonesty. He urged media outlets to uphold consistent, ethical standards when covering judicial matters, regardless of the outcomes.
Accusations of Judicial Compromise in Rivers State
Turning his attention to Rivers State, Wike also accused certain judges of compromising their judicial integrity for political motives. In particular, he called out one judge who he claimed was issuing politically motivated orders and decisions that benefitted specific interests. Wike went as far as revealing that he had opposed this judge’s appointment to the judiciary, even when the National Judicial Council (NJC) had recommended the individual for the position.
“This was a judge I refused when NJC recommended,” Wike revealed. He further explained that this judge had previously held the position of deputy chief registrar during a period of judicial upheaval in the state, suggesting that the judge’s role during that time was questionable.
Wike’s allegations extended to the internal workings of the Rivers judiciary, where he claimed certain judges were divided into factions, with some receiving preferential treatment through discriminatory allowance payments. He stated, “They were paying allowances to these judges, but not to others.”
Political Bias and Controversial Rulings
Wike also spoke about the political nature of the cases being handled by the judge in question, specifically noting that politically sensitive cases seemed to be regularly assigned to him. He cited a recent example where three members of the state’s legislative assembly were allegedly allowed to make laws despite not being properly included in the suits.
“Every political case, they assign it to him, and he will be dishing out orders,” Wike said. Despite his concerns, the Minister expressed confidence that the higher courts would eventually address these issues, restoring fairness and integrity to the system.
In conclusion, Wike’s comments underscored the need for consistency and fairness in both media coverage and judicial conduct, as the country grapples with questions of integrity, power, and influence in its legal system.
