Reps move to protect judges from online attacks

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The House of Representatives on Thursday took preliminary steps to strengthen safeguards against intimidation, harassment and personal attacks on judicial officers. Read More:…

The House of Representatives on Thursday took preliminary steps to strengthen safeguards against intimidation, harassment and personal attacks on judicial officers.

The House urged Nigerians, media organisations and legal practitioners to distinguish between legitimate criticism of court judgments and attempts to undermine judicial independence.

The House also called on the National Judicial Council, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Broadcasting Commission and other relevant institutions to strengthen existing mechanisms for addressing threats and harassment against judicial officers.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled, ‘Need to safeguard judicial independence and protect Judicial Officers from unwarranted intimidation, harassment and public vilification through Social Media and Broadcasting Networks’, moved by the member representing Shomolu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Ademorin Kuye.

Speaking on the substance of the motion, Kuye said judicial independence remained a fundamental pillar of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the administration of justice, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He noted that judicial officers were constitutionally entrusted with interpreting laws, determining disputes and dispensing justice without fear, favour, affection or ill will.

He warned that sustained campaigns of intimidation and personal vilification could expose judges to undue pressure and erode public confidence in the judiciary.

The lawmaker expressed concern that some public commentators and legal practitioners had resorted to personal attacks against judges instead of addressing the legal principles, reasoning and findings contained in their judgments.

He said, “Social media platforms, online publications and broadcasting networks are increasingly being used to circulate unverified allegations, misleading interpretations and inflammatory commentaries about judicial proceedings and judgments, sometimes…

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