CCT chairman threatens to jail journalists

Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), says he will not hesitate to send any journalist “distorting facts from proceedings” to jail.

Umar said this on Thursday while reacting to some newspaper headlines from proceedings on the last adjourned date.

The CCT judge alleged that some newspapers distorted facts when they allegedly reported that Walter Onnoghen, suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), accused the federal government of tampering with his asset declaration forms.

Onnoghen is standing a six-count on false assets declaration.

Umar said Adeboyega Awomolo, counsel to the federal government, only described the forms which were tendered as exhibits on the last adjourned date as “loose.”

“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.”