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It is a season of high profile trials. From the various petitions at the election petition tribunals to the trials of former governors, Nigeria's judiciary is perhaps facing one of its greatest challenges. The cases at hand, the fallouts of the April general elections and the allegations of corruption and embezzlement against some former governors have drawn international attention to the country.
The April elections, which have been described by many as a charade, have seen many of the aggrieved individuals and parties approaching the tribunals set up for that purpose. For the governors, their arrest and subsequent arraignment in courts came on the heels of allegations of corruption and money laundering charges leveled against them by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). Seven former governors have so far been arraigned with one case already concluded.
This is the first time the nation's judiciary would be handling such a number of high profile cases of corruption against high ranking political office holders. The first and the last of such happened during the military regime of Buhari in 1983, when former civilian governors were arrested and tried in Military courts rather than the conventional ones.
Although, the commission had concluded investigations on the former governors since last year, it could not effect their arraignment in courts because of the constitutional shields that prevent sitting governors from prosecution while in office. All that changed on May 29 when they handed over power to their successors and the commission moved to ensure they are brought to book for their deeds.
How has the media as purveyor of information to the public fared in these cases?
From the day Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Saminu Turaki, former governors of Abia and Jigawa respectively, were arrested, their detention stories dominated the media. And with the arrest of three of their colleagues soon after, there was a media frenzy surrounding their cases. These arrests, which coincided with the conclusion of the case involving the former governor of Bayelsa, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, dominated the media space during these periods.
However, mainstream media coverage of these cases was lopsided, inaccurate and deceptive. Crucial elements in these cases were missing. The trial, and the accompanying coverage, has been full of allegations, counter allegations and misinformation.
Throughout when the accused were arraigned, there were different reports on the charges preferred against them and the amount allegedly stolen by them. The Guardian on July 20 reported that Nyame was facing a 41-count charge for allegedly stealing over N1.6 billion, only for it to report the following day that he was facing a 32-count charge. On Turaki, the paper on July 17 said he was facing a 32-count charge of laundering N36 billion, but on August 3, it reported N35billion.
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