The Supreme Court has warned lawyers and public analysts against the infamous action of subjecting issues before it to public debate, saying that the unusual practice of lawyers turning legal issues to “media trial” is unacceptable.
Justice of Supreme Court (JSC), Justice John Okoro, gave the warning while delivering the lead judgment on appeals by the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and that of the Labour Party (LP), seeking to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu.
Delivering the landmark judgment on Thursday, Justice Okoro condemned the trend of litigants holding press conferences, “analysing the case before the court and reaching a conclusion”.
According to the JSC, the ugly development has led to “some of their followers sending threatening messages to judges and justices”.
Justice Okoro also warned litigants to desist from media trial in pending cases before the court.
He then said, “A word is enough for the wise”.
“Litigants are advised to trust the court whenever their matters are before it.
“It is very unbecoming these days that while a matter is pending in court, litigants engage in press conferences, analysing the case and reaching a conclusion.
“Based on these, some of their followers send threatening messages to judges and justices. Matters in court are said to be subjudice, and parties and their counsels must refrain from media trial and judgment.
“Need not say more on this, and a word is enough for the wise. This issue has nothing positive to offer the appellants.”
