Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, Thursday threatened to commit reporters of ThisDay, Guardian and Pilot Newspapers to prison, alleging misrepresentation and concoction of proceedings.
He also warned to imprison any journalist (s) or medium so found wanting in the circumstance of this allegation.
Umar stated that he had arranged for the reporters of ThisDay, Guardian and Pilot Newspapers to be picked up and hauled into prison but had a rethink.
Umar accused reporters of the aforestated papers of reporting the proceedings of Monday, March 18, out of context, reporting, “Onnoghen accuses FG of tampering with asset declaration form”.
He, therefore, accused the reporters of concocting and misrepresenting the facts of what transpired on the day under review.
In his words, the last proceedings was on Monday March 18. That day Onnoghen’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, said the asset declaration forms were in loose form but they were admitted in evidence.
“On Tuesday March 19, ThisDay wrote, “Onnoghen accuses FG of mutilating his asset declaration form. Guardian also reported, “Drama as Onnoghen accuses FG of tampering with asset form. Pilot wrote, “Onnoghen accuses FG of doctoring asset declaration form”.
“This I consider mischievous, distortion of facts, misrepresentation of what transpired when the defence counsel said the asset declaration forms look loose.
“You are very lucky today, I would have used the full wrath of this tribunal to summon you. Send those who reported this misrepresentation of facts to prison.
“It offends the professional conduct of Journalism.
“I will not hesitate to deal decisively with any journalist who go about making misrepresentative statement during this proceedings.
“I have already summoned the special squad to pick those reporters to prison.
“Henceforth, any journalist or paper carrying concocted and discredited not made by this tribunal.
“I will not hesitate to bring the full wrath of the law and and commit them to prison.
“The consequences is that they will languish there. It is contemptuous. They should take heed. They should take heed, he repeated”.
However, the defence counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, on the day in question, said, “The forms have been tampered somehow”.
He added that, “Asset declaration forms have been tampered with in the sense that they are in loose form, mutilated and some pages are omitted.
“We have reservations but shall address the tribunal later.”
