The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council has frowned at the alleged harassment and humiliation of some of its members at an Ondo State Magistrate Court in Akure.
The Union said it is wrong for a Police prosecutor and a Magistrate to humiliate journalists who were in an open court to discharge their lawful duties.
The union’s condemnation was contained in a Protest Letter signed by the NUJ Chairman, Adetona Adetoboye and the State Secretary, Leke Adegbite.
The letter was addressed to the State Chief Judge and the State Commissioner of Police over a Magistrate, Mrs Charity Adeyanju and a Police Prosecutor, Inspector Uloh Goodluck who openly walked out journalists and prevented them from covering the trial of Prophet Alfa Babatunde of Sotitobire Church.
The Union in the letter dated January 17, 2020, bemoaned the unprofessional roles played by the prosecutor, Inspector Uloh Goodluck who even verbally attacked some of the journalists in the court premises.
The letter reads “we write to humbly seek Your lordship’s intervention in the harassment and humiliation of some of our members who were at the state Magistrate Court sitting in Oke-Eda Akure on Friday 17th January, 2020, to cover the court proceedings in a case involving the State against Prophet Alfa Babatunde & others.
“Before the court’s sitting on the said date, the already seated pressmen were personally ordered out of the court by the trial Magistrate, Mrs Charity Adeyanju and were equally prevented from covering the case without any “known offence” in an open court.”
