Journalists in Ondo State were barred from accessing the State High Court located at the Olokuta Correctional Centre in Akure, the state capital, to cover the November 30, 2021 trial of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Bamidele Oleyelogun, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of financial impropriety.
Armed guards of the Correctional Centre prevented journalists from entering the facility and gaining access to the court to cover the court proceedings.
A Squadron Commander manning the gate insisted that journalists would not be allowed into the facility because there was an order from Abuja that all correctional centres should be on red alert to prevent jailbreak.
Mr Ogundare Babatunde, the Public Relations Officer of the correctional centre, corroborated on phone, the Squadron Commander’s claim and insisted no journalists would be allowed into the court.
