By Taiye Agbaje

The Federal High Court (FHC) has warned that it will not hesitate to initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings against any individual, organisation, or platform found culpable of spreading false news that Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Calabar Judicial Division is dead.

FHC said this while affirming that contrary to reports on some platforms, Justice Ojukwu is alive. The Court noted that Justice Ijeoma’s photograph is being used in reports on the murder of Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, a retired Judge of the Delta State High Court.

FHC said this in a statement by its Director of Information of FHC, Dr Catherine Christopher, on Wednesday

It described claim that Justice Ojukwu is dead as “false and malicious.”

It also demanded immediate removal of all posts, articles, broadcasts, and digital content containing the wrongful use of Justice Ojukwu’s photograph.

Christopher said the wrongful use of Justice Ijeoma’s photograph “in connection with reports on the tragic murder of Honourable Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, a retired Judge of the Delta State High Court,” was condemnable.

Justice Okogwu (rtd.) was murdered late Thursday, Nov. 27, in her home in Asaba.

Her killers were said to have bound her legs and hands and ransacked the entire house in what appeared to be a violent, targeted attack.

Reacting, the director said the misrepresentation had caused significant emotional distress to Justice Ojukwu, her family, colleagues and the broader judicial community.

“The Federal High Court of Nigeria hereby issues this formal refutal and strongly condemns the recent dissemination of false, misleading, and malicious media publications.

“For absolute clarity, the Federal High Court affirms that Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is alive, healthy, and currently serving with distinction as a Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

“His Lordship has no direct, indirect, or remote connection whatsoever to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the death of Justice Okogwu,” she said

She added that the “publication and circulation of Justice Ojukwu’s image in this context are not only factually inaccurate but also defamatory, professionally reckless, and legally actionable.”

According to her, it also constitutes a breach of fundamental journalistic and ethical standards.

“Pursuant to applicable laws, including the laws of defamation under Nigerian jurisprudence, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, and relevant regulatory standards governing media practice, the Federal High Court demands the following with immediate effect:

“Immediate removal of all posts, articles, broadcasts, and digital content containing the wrongful use of Justice Ojukwu’s photograph.

“A clear, unambiguous public retraction, expressly acknowledging the misidentification and correcting the misinformation.

“A written and publicly published apology directed to Honourable Justice Ojukwu, disseminated across all platforms on which the erroneous information was originally shared.

“The Federal High Court further advises all media organisations, journalists, bloggers, and online publishers to exercise strict due diligence in verifying facts and images before publication, particularly when reporting on judicial officers whose reputational integrity is essential to the administration of justice.

“Failure to comply with this notice, or any continued publication, sharing, or circulation of the false image after this formal refutal, will be construed as deliberate malice and bad faith,” she said

Christopher, therefore, threatened that the FHC would not hesitate to initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings against any individual, organisation, or platform found culpable.

“The court remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting the dignity, safety, and integrity of all judicial officers serving the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she concluded. -(NAN)

Source; PM News