Abdulgafar Alabelewe, who chairs the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kaduna State, has declared that journalists are being relegated to the position of passive spectators in the ongoing trial of Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State.
Since the legal proceedings against El-Rufai began, the media has reportedly been barred from direct coverage. Consequently, journalists have been dependent on updates provided by the legal counsels representing both the prosecution and the defense after each court session.
This restriction on media access has faced significant backlash from legal practitioners and media professionals alike, who argue that such measures contravene established constitutional provisions regarding public access to justice.
Speaking on the matter, Alabelewe expressed his dismay at the sidelining of journalists from court proceedings, characterizing the development as "unfortunate."
He asserted that limiting media access to courtrooms undermines the crucial role the press plays, especially in cases concerning national interest, particularly those involving allegations of corruption or security issues.
"It is an unfortunate situation because the media have been reduced to mere onlookers in matters of national interest. Issues of corruption and security are of public concern, and journalists should be granted full access to observe and report on proceedings, whether at the stage of prosecution or trial," Alabelewe stated.
The NUJ chairman pointed out that the exclusion experienced in Kaduna is not an isolated incident, recalling past instances where reporters were denied entry to court premises or faced severe access limitations under the pretext of managing crowd control.
He further alleged that, in some instances, individuals with no direct connection to the court cases were granted entry based on their social standing, while accredited journalists were turned away.
Alabelewe also highlighted the potential dangers stemming from such restricted access, explaining that reporters are often compelled to rely on information relayed by legal representatives, which can sometimes prove to be inaccurate.
"We have witnessed situations where lawyers misled journalists with inaccurate accounts of court rulings, leading to conflicting reports in the media," he remarked, referencing experiences during the 2023 post-election tribunal hearings.
Additionally, he raised concerns regarding the safety of journalists, noting that they are sometimes left waiting outside court facilities, potentially exposed to threats from hostile individuals.
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