Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, on Thursday said he would not hesitate to jail any journalist distorting facts from proceedings.
Mr Umar said this on the incidence of newspaper headlines from proceedings on the last adjourned date.
He said some newspapers distorted facts when they allegedly reported that the suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, accused the federal government of tampering with his asset declaration forms.
The CCT chairman further said that counsel to the federal government, Adeboyega Awomolo, only described as ‘loose’ the forms which were brought before the court as exhibits on the last adjourned date.
“Are there journalists here?” Umar asked, “there were publications, three print media. Let me start with one. The front page of the newspaper reported: ‘Onnoghen accuses FG of doctoring his asset declaration forms’. Note doctoring.
“Another: ‘Drama as Onnoghen accuses FG of tampering with his asset forms’. These are considered as mischievous, distorted facts, misrepresentation of what transpired.
“You are very lucky today, I would have used the full wrath of this tribunal and send you to prison. I will not hesitate to deal decisively with any journalist distorting facts. You will stay there until I retire that is 28 years from now,” Umar said.
