A legal practitioner, Mr. Kenechukwu Okeke has filed a petition
at the ongoing Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for criminal
contempt summons (Form C) against CNN Africa, CNN International,
Messsrs. Obianuju Catherine Udeh, Stephanie Busari, Nima Elbagir,
Gianluca Mezzofiore and Katie Polglase, Barbara Arvanitidis,
Muhammad Darwish and Oscar Featherstone.
The petition which was obtained by Nairalaw is dated and
filed today, the 23rd of November, 2020, and titled
“CONTEMPT OF TRIBUNAL BEING COMMITTED EX-FACIE CURIAE BY
MESSRS OBianuju Catherine Udeh, Stephanie Busari, Nima
Elbagir, Gianluca Mezzofiore and Katie Polglase, Barbara
Arvanitidis, Muhammad Darwish and Oscar Featherstone”.
![image](/2020/11/NWLR-1.jpg")
According to the Petitioner (Mr. Kenechukwu Okeke), the alleged
contemnors had by their actions brought disgrace to the Tribunal’s
moral and Judicial authority by publishing several articles via
various social media platforms on issues of the alleged killings
that took place on October 20, 2020, at the Lekki Toll Gate in
Lagos; an issue which the Tribunal is currently investigating.
According to the petition, the said publications are calculated
with a view to prejudicing the outcome of the Tribunal’s
investigation. He therefore asked the tribunal to sanction all the
contemnors in line with its power as provided under sections 11(3)
and 12 (1)(c) of the Tribunal of Inquiry law of Lagos State, in
other to preserve its good image and for the sake of Justice.
Furthermore, Mr. Kenechukwu Okeke called to question the
supposed impartiality of one of the members of the Tribunal in the
person of Ms. Olorunrinu Oduala. According to him, her actions
suggest a form of bias in favour of one category of the parties
currently before the tribunal.
He further accused her of retweeting matters that are related to
the ENDSARS protest, in such a way that it would seem that the
tribunal is bias in favour of the protesters, this he supported
with what he described as her “deliberate collaboration” with
Stephanie Busari (one of the contemnors), as evident on 17th and
18th of November, 2020. An exhibit which he tendered to the
tribunal.
In a related statement, Mr Kenechukwu Okeke noted that foreign
media houses must comply with regulations that operates within
Nigeria.
“Without mincing words, @CNN or any other foreign media
organisation must respect the laws of the Federation of Nigeria
(including any regulations thereof), and also treat the population
with respect, courtesy, and acting with impartiality, integrity and
respect for diversity.” He said.
Recall that on the 19th of November, 2020, the Cable News
Network (CNN) had released damning reports and its investigation on
the alleged killings that took place at the lekk toll gate in the
heat of the ENDSARS protest, find link to the said report here:
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/18/africa/lagos-nigeria-lekki-toll-gate-feature-intl/index.html
Recall also that, Mr. Lai Mohammed had threatened to sanction
the Cable News Network (CNN) over its investigative reports on the
ENDSARS protest and alleged Lekki killings of 20th October, 2020.
See link to the threat here: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/19/africa/nigeria-shooting-lekki-toll-gate-investigation-response-intl/index.html?utm_content=2020-11-19T16%3A46%3A05&utm_source=fbCNN&utm_term=link&utm_medium=social[1]
At the time of filing this report, neither CNN nor any of the
alleged contemnors have officially reacted to the petition.
A legal practitioner, Mr. Kenechukwu Okeke has filed a petition
at the ongoing Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for criminal
contempt summons (Form C) against CNN Africa, CNN International,
Messsrs. Obianuju Catherine Udeh, Stephanie Busari, Nima Elbagir,
Gianluca Mezzofiore and Katie Polglase, Barbara Arvanitidis,
Muhammad Darwish and Oscar Featherstone.
The petition which was obtained by Nairalaw is dated and
filed today, the 23rd of November, 2020, and titled
“CONTEMPT OF TRIBUNAL BEING COMMITTED EX-FACIE CURIAE BY
MESSRS OBianuju Catherine Udeh, Stephanie Busari, Nima
Elbagir, Gianluca Mezzofiore and Katie Polglase, Barbara
Arvanitidis, Muhammad Darwish and Oscar Featherstone”.
According to the Petitioner (Mr. Kenechukwu Okeke), the alleged
contemnors had by their actions brought disgrace to the Tribunal’s
moral and Judicial authority by publishing several articles via
various social media platforms on issues of the alleged killings
that took place on October 20, 2020, at the Lekki Toll Gate in
Lagos; an issue which the Tribunal is currently investigating.
According to the petition, the said publications are calculated
with a view to prejudicing the outcome of the Tribunal’s
investigation. He therefore asked the tribunal to sanction all the
contemnors in line with its power as provided under sections 11(3)
and 12 (1)(c) of the Tribunal of Inquiry law of Lagos State, in
other to preserve its good image and for the sake of Justice.
Furthermore, Mr. Kenechukwu Okeke called to question the
supposed impartiality of one of the members of the Tribunal in the
person of Ms. Olorunrinu Oduala. According to him, her actions
suggest a form of bias in favour of one category of the parties
currently before the tribunal.
He further accused her of retweeting matters that are related to
the ENDSARS protest, in such a way that it would seem that the
tribunal is bias in favour of the protesters, this he supported
with what he described as her “deliberate collaboration” with
Stephanie Busari (one of the contemnors), as evident on 17th and
18th of November, 2020. An exhibit which he tendered to the
tribunal.
In a related statement, Mr Kenechukwu Okeke noted that foreign
media houses must comply with regulations that operates within
Nigeria.
“Without mincing words, @CNN or any other foreign media
organisation must respect the laws of the Federation of Nigeria
(including any regulations thereof), and also treat the population
with respect, courtesy, and acting with impartiality, integrity and
respect for diversity.” He said.
Recall that on the 19th of November, 2020, the Cable News
Network (CNN) had released damning reports and its investigation on
the alleged killings that took place at the lekk toll gate in the
heat of the ENDSARS protest, find link to the said report here:
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/18/africa/lagos-nigeria-lekki-toll-gate-feature-intl/index.html
Recall also that, Mr. Lai Mohammed had threatened to sanction
the Cable News Network (CNN) over its investigative reports on the
ENDSARS protest and alleged Lekki killings of 20th October, 2020.
See link to the threat here: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/19/africa/nigeria-shooting-lekki-toll-gate-investigation-response-intl/index.html?utm_content=2020-11-19T16%3A46%3A05&utm_source=fbCNN&utm_term=link&utm_medium=social[1]
At the time of filing this report, neither CNN nor any of the
alleged contemnors have officially reacted to the petition.