The downside of ongoing media trial
By Akin Idowu
Following the high level of corruption of the past government, the current government made fighting corruption a campaign theme. Just last week the government released figures of over N2 trillion recovered from institutions and people allegedly connected to corruption. This is a remarkable achievement and a huge boost to the fight against corruption.
However the downside to this is the manner done respectable people are dragged in the mud, prosecuted and tried and declared guilty by a section of the media, even if they are yet to be prosecuted by any government agency.
Take the issue of Dauda Lawal which has been overflogged by a tiny segment of the media recently. It’s full of hot air, without much substance or facts. Or is it fiction?
Sahara Reporters said he was allegedly arrested by the EFCC and was said to be cooperating with the anti corruption agency. Suddenly there are claims that he ‘assisted’ a minister to purchase a hotel. Later there was a second version saying the sale was done through one Lawson, but with his ‘involvement.’ Double speak I would say.
Then another online publication claimed that he comes to work three times a day with three different flashy vehicles. Haba! He doesn’t he have work to do?
With all these sentiments, he is yet to be charged to court by the government. Yet there are unsubstantiated stories flying around this guy. And he has been calm cooperating with EFCC to unravel the truth. Should such a fellow by butchered in the media?
Does he deserve this comical madness?
Has he hurt someone? Are some people after his job? Why all these hoopla?
There’s so much media trial these days, and we cannot succeed in fighting corruption like this. It’s like reading fiction or precisely James Hadley Chase with strange characters and escapades.
There’s no thorough investigation and stories are not published based on facts. Professional ethics have been thrown to the dogs. What a pity!
Whether you are a journalist or investigating crime, the job needs dexterity, patience and deep understanding of financial transactions. It’s not for novices, and has no room for fiction and having a particular mind set. The problem with us is that we are too impatient. And it will be difficult to succeed this way.
Views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of TheCable.
Yes, I agree to this opinion. The media needs to stop coming up with fictions and give us facts. If Dauda hasn’t been charged in the court, why all these persecutions? We need to have our facts before throwing shades on people.
I’ve have been following this trend and it doesn’t make sense to me. If he has been cooperating with EFCC, then why are people quick to judge? Wait for action by the government!
When you write that someone is cooperating with EFCC, why then write unfounded and incorrect stories about him? We all agree that corruption must be fought for our nation to be great, but a section of media should be decent in their reports. Being a gentleman Dauda has kept his cool.
This is very true. The media is quick to make up different stories and affect someone’s image. It’s not the media’s job to judge, wait for the court of law!
I agree that Federal Government is doing a great job in its fight against corruption.
But it is advisable to urge the media to investigate appropriately and not be bias in their reporting.
Mr. Dauda Lawal is a reputable man and should be entitled to a fair trial. This is a mere allegation, the case is not even in court yet.