On August 19, 2024, a presiding magistrate at the Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, Mr. Waliu Salami, hearing the alleged felony trial of online journalist, Mr. Precious Eze, seized the mobile phones of three broadcast journalists who were covering the proceedings in his court.
The court also accepted as evidence an extra-judicial statement provided by the first prosecution witness.
Mr. Precious Chukwunonso is facing four charges, including conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, provoking offensive publication, and conspiracy to commit felony at the Ebute Meta Magistrate Court, Lagos State.
The charges, which are in accordance with sections 411, 168(1)(d), and 57(1)(a), (b), and (c) of the Lagos State Criminal Laws of 2015, stem from a complaint filed by businessman Mr. Chris Odinaka Igwe who alleged that Mr. Chukwunonso made publications accusing him of firing gunshots at a neighbour’s residence in Victoria Garden City after being attacked by a dog. He was detained for over two weeks before being granted bail.
During the hearing, police prosecutor Mr. Cyril Ejiofor raised concerns about the presence of cameramen from TVC News, News Central, and Arise News in the courtroom. He argued that their presence constituted harassment towards the police and the complainant. Mr. Ejiofor also accused the journalists of recording the proceedings on their phones.
Despite the journalists’ explanations that they were only taking notes on their devices, the magistrate ordered them to surrender their phones to the court orderly or leave the courtroom.
During cross-examination, the prosecution’s first witness, Mr. Moses Chibunna, an IT employee at the complainant’s company, Mainland Oil and Gas Ltd., testified that he initially saw the alleged offensive post on the defendant’s blog, PreciousEze’sblog.com, before it was republished on newsplatformng.com to increase its reach.
Mr. Chibunna admitted that he was unaware if the complainant’s police orderly was present or if any shots were fired on the day in question. He also acknowledged that the defendant had published a rejoinder issued by Mr. Igwe, explaining his side of the story.
The trial is set to continue on September 13, 2024.
