Farmer/Herder Clash: Joxurnalist Alleges Humiliation In Court, Demands Probe Over Exclusion From Own Case

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UYO – Investigative journalist and farmer, Ibanga Isine, has ac­cused officials of Magistrate Court 7 in Uyo of violating his constitutional right to fair hearing and undermining press freedom after he was allegedly ordered out of the courtroom during proceedings arising from a case instituted following re­peated destruction of his farms by suspected herders.

In a strongly-worded state­ment made available to our cor­respondent in Uyo on Friday, Isine alleged that Magistrate Godwin Edemekong ordered police offi­cers to eject him from the court­room without allowing him to speak, despite appearing in court at the instance of the police pros­ecutor in the matter between the Commissioner of Police and one Abdullahi Yusuf.

The journalist further alleged that reporters from Pioneer Newspaper, Inspiration FM and XL FM were denied access to the proceedings, with court officials insisting that journalists must present introduction letters from their organisations before being allowed into the courtroom.

He described the develop­ment as a disturbing assault on the principle of open justice and called on the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Fabian-Obot, to investigate the conduct of the magistrate and court officials involved.

“What happened in the court­room was not only a personal humiliation. It raised serious is­sues about judicial impartiality, the constitutional right to a fair hearing and freedom of the press. It also questions the transparen­cy in judicial proceedings and the willingness of public institutions to protect law-abiding citizens who seek justice through lawful means,” Isine said.

The journalist disclosed that his family had invested heavily in commercial farming in line with the state government’s agricul­tural policy and currently oper­ates farms cultivating tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, pepper, cassava, yam and plantain, providing em­ployment opportunities for about 20 persons.

He lamented that the farms had suffered at least five inva­sions by herders and their cattle, resulting in the destruction of crops and irrigation facilities worth millions of naira.

“Our farms have been invaded on at least five occasions. Approx­imately one hectare of cucumber was destroyed, another hectare of okra was ruined, and a sophisti­cated irrigation system was dam­aged. Beyond the destruction of property, farm workers were chased away and on one occa­sion a herder allegedly pursued me with a cutlass after invading our farm,” he alleged.

According to him, although he petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, leading to the arrest and arraign­ment of one Abdullahi Yusuf, he repeatedly experienced difficul­ties obtaining information about the status of the case from the police prosecutor.

He alleged that hearing dates were not communicated to him and that details of the proceed­ings scheduled for June 18 were only disclosed barely an hour before the sitting.

Narrating events inside the courtroom, Isine reported that after two journalists managed to gain access to the court, the pre­siding magistrate ordered them out and subsequently directed po­lice officers to remove him from the courtroom despite identifying himself as the complainant.