•Warns against misinformation
By Ogalla Daniel
The High Court of Justice of Kogi State has refuted claims circulating on social media that it ordered the deregistration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), describing the reports as false, misleading and capable of undermining public confidence in the judiciary.
In a statement issued by the Chief Information Officer of the High Court, Saqeeb Saeed, the judiciary clarified that it has never handled any case relating to the registration or deregistration of any political party in Nigeria, including the National Democratic Congress.
According to the statement, the court’s attention was drawn to a social media broadcast by a content creator alleging that the purported deregistration of the political party was carried out by the High Court of Kogi State.
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The court expressed concern that the misleading content was accompanied by the photographs of the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Josiah Joe Majebi, and former Governor Yahaya Bello, creating what it described as a mischievous impression that the alleged decision originated from the state’s judiciary.
The statement reads: “The attention of the authorities of the High Court of Justice of Kogi State has been drawn to an erroneous and misleading broadcast on social media by a content creator, claiming that the deregistration of one of Nigeria’s political parties, the National Democratic Congress, was ordered by the High Court of Kogi State.
“We wish to place it on record that the High Court of Justice of Kogi State did not handle any matter relating to the registration or deregistration of any political party in the country, particularly the party in question, nor any other matter concerning the political party.
“The court authorities would not have wanted to dignify the content creator with a response were it not that the erroneous publication was accompanied by the portrait of the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Josiah Joe Majebi, and the former governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in what is clearly a mischievous insinuation that the said decision emanated from the state’s High Court of Justice.
“This is therefore intended to urge the general public, particularly content creators, to ensure proper checks of all necessary details to authenticate the true position of verifiable facts in any information available to them before rushing to create content on social media. Misleading and misinforming the public on matters that put the integrity and dignity of the judges and the institution of the High Court of Justice of Kogi State, or other courts under its administrative control, at risk will no longer be tolerated.
“The institution hereby urges the general public to disregard the said social media content, as the High Court of Justice of Kogi State remains committed to serving the state and the country diligently by dispensing justice fairly, without fear or favour.”
