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.