Digital space difficult to regulate | Nairalaw

President Muhammadu Buhari says it is difficult to regulate what
comes out on digital platforms.

Buhari spoke when the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by
Chris Isiguzo, its president, paid him a visit at the presidential
villa on Thursday.

The president sought the cooperation of the journalists while
urging them to do their bit by combatting fake news and reporting
the truth.

According to him, the media profession is “undergoing a
fundamental shift” while threatened by “uncontrolled and
unregulated news platforms”.

The president assured the members of the fourth estate of the
realm that security agencies will protect them “especially those
operating in hostile environments”.

Buhari further said that his government will not relent in
fighting corruption and insecurity in the country.

“As I look to the next four years, I will remain committed to a
safe and secure nation; creating an inclusive and diversified
economy; and a governance system that is free of corrupt
practices,” Buhari said.

“In all these areas, we will remain transparent in implementing
our policies. In return, I seek your support in ensuring that you
report the truth. You must not allow yourselves to be influenced by
individuals with divisive motives.

“I therefore seek your cooperation to bring a sustainable end to
this menace. As a Government, we are already cooperating with our
international friends and allies on this matter. But we cannot do
it alone. You also have to do your bit.

“Your profession today is undergoing a fundamental shift. For
better or worse, the digital space is now becoming the major outlet
for ‘news.’ This space is difficult to regulate and police. In many
instances, the participants in this medium are not trained or
professional journalists.

“The stories they present are neither factual nor true. However,
through the digital platform, they are able to reach millions and
create an alternate reality in their minds.

“I am sure you will all agree that the biggest threat to the
sustainability and credibility of your profession is the
uncontrolled and unregulated news platforms operating in the cyber
space.

“This is not only in Nigeria, but across the entire globe.
Innocent lives have been lost or destroyed due to this ‘fake news’
phenomenon. Many of the perpetrators of these acts do not even live
within our shores. However, they have been able to damage the
reputation of hard working Nigerian journalists while at the same
time promoting conflict and divisions within our society.”

Onnoghen: FG Closes Case on Asset
Declaration
…. Suspended CJN Has 5 Houses, Not 55 Properties

Federal Government has closed its case of non asset declaration
charges against suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice
Walter Onnoghen, after calling 3 out of the 6 witnesses listed for
the trial.

Onnoghen is being prosecuted by the Federal government on a six
count charge bordering on alleged failure to disclose some of his
assets in his Asset Declaration forms submitted to the Code of
Conduct Bureau (CCB).

However prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar SAN, announced that the
prosecution is closing its case shortly after the defendant
finished cross examination of the third prosecution witness, Ifeoma
Okagbue, an official of Standard Chartered Bank.

The prosecution in its application for the trial had said it
would be calling 6 witnesses to prove its case against Onnoghen.
However, at the end of cross examination, the lead prosecution
counsel said though they initially listed 6 witnesses for the
trial, however, it would not be calling on the remaining three,
adding that he is offering them to the defense for cross
examination if they so wished.

But, counsel to the defendant, Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, said the
defense does not need the witnesses, adding that the prosecution
can go ahead to close its case if it is done.

Shortly after the prosecution announced the closure of its case,
Awomolo informed the tribunal of its intention to invoke section
303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. He
pleaded with the tribunal to allow him prepare a written address
and urged the chairman to order the registry to make record of
proceedings available to him to guide him in the written
address.

The prosecution did not object to the application, prompting the
tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar to make an order on the registry to
avail parties in the matter with the record of proceedings.

He also ordered that the record must be made available to the
parties on Monday and adjourned hearing in the no case submission
to March 29.

Okagbue in her evidence in Chief told the tribunal that Onnoghen
maintains 5 different accounts with her bank in Abuja. According to
her, two of the accounts are naira accounts, one saving and the
other current, while the remaining three in pounds, dollars and
euro.

She disclosed that as December 2018, one of the naira accounts
has N2.6m while the other has N12.8m, the euro account as at
December 2018, 10, 187 euros, the pounds Sterling accounts as at
December 2018, had 13,730 pounds and the dollar account as at
January 2019 has $56, 878.

The witness said she met the defendant once in 2015 as a
Relationship Manager.

Under cross examination by Onnoghen’s lawyer, Okagbue said that
the 5 accounts are domicile in the Wuse branch in Abuja and that
Onnoghen never made any foreign transfer from the accounts.

She also confirmed that the 5 accounts have one Bank
Verification Number (BVN). The witness however admitted that
Onnoghen has a facility of $500,000 as at January,2019 with the
bank secured by his investment in bonds and other investment.

She further admitted that Onnoghen as a discipline account
holder was encouraged by bank to invest in profit yeilding
investment and that interest in the investment are regularly
credited to his account, adding that the bank made investment on
Onnoghen’s behalf from his account.

Earlier, the second prosecution witness, Awal Yakassai under
cross examination admitted that two assets declaration forms
submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), by Onnoghen, three
years ago have till date not been verified.

Yakassai, a retired director of the CCB, when his attention was
drawn to the column for remarks, admitted that no comment was made
on the verification column indicating that the forms have not been
verified.

Answering a question, Yakassai further confirmed from the forms
that Onnoghen has only 5 houses contrary to the allegation of 55
properties. One of the houses was said to have been sold to him by
the Federal government.

By PRNigeria