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Code Of Conduct Tribunal Chairman Says His Decree 2 Comment ‘Mere Joke’

He explained that Mr. Umar had only cracked the joke following his discovery that some media organisations had in their report claimed that his tribunal had indefinitely adjourned the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki on false declaration of assets.

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Yakubu Umar, says he was only joking when he advocated the return Decree 2, a military-era press law, to regulate the practice of journalism in the country.

Mr. Umar, who has come under blistering criticism for his words, said that contrary to the impression created in the media, he did not advocate for the Decree to harass, intimidate or arrest journalists or any Nigerian for whatever reason.

A press statement released by the Public Relations Officer of the Tribunal, Ibrahim Alhassan, urged the public to regard the statement as a joke made in good faith, and not with the intention of obstructing the practice of journalism in the country.

“The statement by the Chairman was made out of joke, not to intimidate any member of the Fourth Estate of the Realm in this country from observing their statutory functions as mandated by the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, as anchored in liberal democratic society like ours.”

He explained that Mr. Umar had only cracked the joke following his discovery that some media organisations had in their report claimed that his tribunal had indefinitely adjourned the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki on false declaration of assets.

According to Mr. Alhassan, the Chairman in the remarks in open court said without any bias or hatred that the publication of adjournment sine die, meaning indefinite adjournment, was not a true reflection of the decision of the tribunal when the adjournment issue was decided.

“We wish to state that the CCT Chairman as a law-abiding citizen recognises the role assigned to media practitioners by law and would not do anything to hinder the media practitioners from doing their legitimate jobs,” Alhassan said, noting that there has been no conflict between the media and the CCT in the course of the high profile trial of the Senate President.

Pointing out that the Tribunal appreciates that conducive working atmosphere, Alhassan also stated that the Chairman never threatened any senators during the event, and had only cautioned the people in the gallery to behave and to stop interjecting into the proceedings.

“The Chairman’s caution was informed by complaint from the Federal Government Lawyer, Mr Rotimi Jacob that he was been shouted down by some people from the gallery, prompting the chairman to caution that whoever exhibits unruly behaviours would be made to face contempt of the tribunal,”

That caution, he stated, was not directed at the distinguished senators who were in the Tribunal with Mr. Saraki.

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