A Magistrate with the magistrate court in the Ebute Metta magistrate court, Magistrate Waliu Salami, hearing the alleged felony trial of online journalist and publisher of “News Platform,” otherwise known as www.platformng.com, Precious Eze, on Monday, August 19, 2024, confiscated Mobile phones belonging to three broadcast journalists from TVC News, Arise News, and News Central TV covering the trial.
The court admitted as exhibit the extra-judicial statement made by the first prosecution witness in the case.
Journalist, Precious Eze is on four counts on trial for conduct likely to cause breach of peace, provoking an offensive publication and conspiracy to commit felony at the Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court.
The charges were brought pursuant to sections 411, 168(1)(d) as well as 57(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 as he is arraigned following a complaint lodged with police authorities by businessman, Chris Odinaka Igwe over the defendant’s publications: https://www.newsplatformng.com/2024/05/chris-odinaka-igwe-alleged-to-have.html?m=1 where it was reported that Chris Igwe allegedly opened fire after dog encounter turned hostile in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) of Lagos.
The defendant spent more than two weeks in detention before he was released on bail, five days of which was at the Zone 2 Police Celle and 14 days at the Ikoyi Prison while waiting for his bail conditions to be perfected.
At the resumed hearing yesterday, police prosecutor, one Cyril Ejiofor complained about the presence of newsmen in the court promises, which he said was a form of intimidation and harassment to the police, the magistrate court and the complainant.
He also accused the journalists of recording the hearing with their phones.
But despite explanations from the affected journalists reporting for TVC News, News Central and Arise News that they were only taking notes with their devices, Magistrate Waliu Salami ordered them to surrender their phones to the court orderly for the time being or leave the courtroom.
At the continuation of the trial, the prosecution’s first witness. Moses Joshua Chibunna said during cross-examination by Barrister Kunle Afolabi from AVOCATS SANS FRONTIERS (ASF) who represents the defendant that he works in the IT department of the complainant’s company, Mainland Oil and Gas Ltd.
He added that he first saw the post on a certain “Precious Eze’s Blog” before it evolved into newsplatformng.com in a bid for stories on the platform to go viral.
The witness said he didn’t know if the complainant, Chris Odinaka Igwe’s police orderly, was with him that day the incident occurred or fired any shots, but he went on to say that he was aware that the defendant had published a rejoinder issued by Mr Igwe stating his side of the controversy https://www.newsplatformng.com/2024/05/re-violent-attack-on-dr-chris-igwe-md.html?m=1…
The Case was adjourned to September 13th, 2024 for further hearing.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
