Falsehood Peddlers, Rumour Mongers Will Be Punished - CJN Warns

Justice Tanko Muhammad

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, on Monday, warned that falsehood peddlers and rumour mongers would be made to face the wrath of the law.

He issued the warning in a statement denying issuing a directive for the transfer of a House of Representatives election petition case in Delta State from the Panel 3 to Panel 2 of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

The warning was contained in the statement by the Director of Press and Information, Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande.

It was referring to a case between the member representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Nicholas Mutu, whose election is being challenged, and Collins Eselomo, the petitioner.

Eselemo of the All Progressives Congress, had earlier in June 2019 petitioned the CJN requesting the transfer of the case to another panel of the tribunal over alleged judicial misconduct in the handling of his case by the panel originally hearing it.

The CJN said he never issued any letter for the transfer of the case, while he warned of dire consequences against falsehood peddlers.

He enjoined members of the public “particularly politicians, to always conduct themselves with decorum and respect, especially when making weighty allegations and insinuations of that nature, as the consequences are always dire and far reaching”.

The statement read in part, “The office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria has never at any time issued a letter or query of any sort with such information to the said panel and if at all such Information were to be communicated, we have our well-established official channel to do it.

“We therefore enjoin members of the public, particularly politicians, to always conduct themselves with decorum and respect, especially when making weighty allegations and insinuations of that nature, as the consequences are always dire and far reaching.
For the umpteenth time,  rumour mongers and peddlers of malicious information should endeavour to apply  caution and toe the path of honour and dignity.

“Anybody caught spreading such misleading and harmful information will certainly be made to face the full weight of the law to serve as deterrent to the several others who are waiting eagerly in the queue to administer their own dose of infectious falsehood on the unsuspecting public.”