The House of Representatives has requested the police to ban Chidinma Ijukwu, the key suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO Mr. Usifo Ataga, from giving additional media interviews.
Chidinma, a University of Lagos 300-level Mass Communication student, was arrested on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, as the suspected murder of Super TV CEO, Mr. Usifo Ataga, at a service apartment in Lagos’ Lekki neighborhood.
The House raised concern today at plenary that, since Chidinma’s arrest, she has been paraded around, giving interviews to various news platforms, causing the internet and news media to be curious with the discussion and analysis situation.
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The House sent a warning to the police to make sure that future violations of human rights, such as allowing media access to jailed people, do not jeopardize the case in court.
According to Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, the member representing Oluyole federal constituency in Oyo State, the law of Nigeria does not permit social media trials, and topics that are sub judice (meaning not yet determined by the court) are not to be debated by the media.
He stated that every individual charged with criminal conduct is deemed innocent unless proven guilty under Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
She said;
“So long as Ms. Ojukwu has not been proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, she is not to be labeled a criminal or paraded about to conduct series of interviews on a case currently under investigation. Rather, the police are to conduct a proper investigation and allow the court to consider the matter and make an informed judgment,”
Source: Ghgossip.com