Journalists Laud Malami As AGF Cautions Against Blackmail, Partisanship

The National Association of Judiciary Correspondents, Abuja (NAJUC) has appreciated the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) for supporting judicial reporting and professionalism among journalists.

The AGF however, cautions journalists about reporting government activities, stressing that room must not be given to blackmail of the government.

NAJUC’s chairman, Mr Kayode Lawal, on Thursday, noted that the association had benefitted from Malami’s good will in several ways, adding its ongoing national conference holding at the Olusegun Obasanjo auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, is a good example.

Lawal said the AGF donated the venue to the association and supported the conference.

Malami, who was the special guest of honor at the event, assured the association that the ministry and media will continue to be “partners in progress”.

The AGF, represented by his Spokesman, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, admitted that in recent times fake news reporting had declined but advised that journalists should desist from deliberately spreading misinformation about government, adding that it was counterproductive to the development of the country.

“Media practitioners must be above board by avoiding partisan politics in their reportage, issues must be well analyzed, and patriotic solutions proffered, deliberate falsehood, blackmail, name calling against government, its officials and its institutions should be clearly avoided. The Nigerian people are expecting so much from the media, they want to be objectively informed on the activities of the government; this government is a listening one.

“I recall the recent EndSARs protest by some youths; as a listening government, all issues rolled out by the protest are being gradually address. A good example is the 774,000 jobs being implemented for youths in the 774 local government areas of the country to address the issue of unemployment and youth restiveness,” he said.

Subjects treated at the conference include the role of judiciary in good governance, judicial autonomy and the administration of criminal justice.