Also reported in the media is the account of Enugu Chief Magistrate Dennis Ekoh ordering out this week two pressmen for covering a trial involving the Enugu State Chief Judge!

The NBA is concerned about this because of its commitment to freedom of the Press. Consequently, for any allegation touching upon erosion of freedom of the Press to purport to come from the judiciary, who are the very custodians of freedom and justice, is something unconscionable. The NBA has therefore instructed association Legal Adviser Mrs. Linda Bala to investigate and report back within a week. In the interim, the NBA draws the attention of the Bench to provisions of Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and states that if these media reports are true, the action of the Magistrates is clearly unconstitutional. Magistrates and Judges are hereby advised to be restrained. A fuller statement will be issued and possibly other steps taken as soon as the Legal Adviser of the NBA issues her report.

Thank you.

This 20^th Day of May 2010

Ikeazor Akaraiwe, Esq                             Murtala Abdulrashed, Esq.

1^st Vice-President,                                   National Publicity Secretary

Nigerian Bar Association                           Nigerian Bar Association