Court Warns against False Reportage in Mbah’s Suit against NYSC

...Strikes out Edeoga’s application for joinder

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has warned against giving false report of the proceedings of courts.

Ekwo gave the warning at the resumed hearing of the N20 billion lawsuit filed against the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) by the Enugu State Governor, Mr Peter Mbah.

At the same time, Ekwo has struck out the application by the candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu State in the March 18 governorship election, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, seeking to be joined as a party Mbah’s suit against the NYSC.

The court struck out the application for the joinder after it was withdrawn by the applicant.

The governor had commenced legal action against the management of the NYSC over alleged misrepresentation of facts concerning his NYSC discharge certificate.

During the proceedings, before parties began to move pending motions, Justice Ekwo interjected and warned against false reportage.

He said: “In this court, I operate an open door policy. I have instructed my registrars to make available to the media whatever document they need. I have always said all that I want is accurate reportage of proceedings before this court.

“It’s is only in this country that some persons who called themselves journalists will report falsehood and get away with it. I am not even saying you should be objective but report the facts the way they are, that’s why the registrars have been working with the media to ensure court proceedings are not misrepresented”.

He therefore, warned of the consequences of misrepresentation of court proceedings.

SUN