By Miriam Humbe, Abuja
The Nigerian Army has told SaharaReporters, an online publication to practice responsible journalism and refrain from subjective, inaccurate, and inappropriate reporting of matters currently (sub-judice).
The Army said it was inappropriate and amounted to unlawful interference with the administration of justice to peddle inaccurate reports and comments on a matter currently under judicial adjudication sub-judice.
In a press release signed on Sunday, and published on its official Twitter handle, @HQNigerianArmy, the Army said it would not comment on those statements to maintain the sanctity of the trial and its outcome.
Recall that Sahara Reporters had reported that the Nigerian Army was secretly detaining Major General UM Mohammed after exposing how he laundered funds for ex-Army Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Yusuf Tukur Buratai.
The Army said that all the statements reported to have been made about certain persons and funds disbursement were made in the course of the trial by a witness in the defence of his case.
Here’s a full text of the Nigerian Army’s statement:
“REPORT ON ONGOING COURT-MARTIAL TRIAL OF MAJOR GENERAL UM MOHAMMED BY SAHARA REPORTERS IS A CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY
“It is crucial to state clearly, that it is inappropriate and amounts to unlawful interference with the administration of justice to peddle inaccurate reports and comments on a matter currently under judicial adjudication (sub-judice).
“All the statements reported to have been made about certain persons and funds disbursement were made in the course of the trial by a witness in the defence of his case.
“We shall therefore not comment on those statements to maintain the sanctity of the trial and its outcome.
“Sahara Reporters is enjoined to practice responsible journalism and refrain from subjective, inaccurate, and inappropriate reporting of matters currently sub-judice.”
