Bayo Olupohunda, Editor-in-Chief of Opera News in a Tweet thread reviews last Friday’s parade of Uduak Akpan arrested for the killing of a job seeker, Iniubong Umoren by the Akwa Ibom State command during which crime reporter asked the accused questions.
1/ The show of shame displayed by reporters during the parade of Uduak reveals the corruption in the media where Crime Beat Reporters have allowed themselves to be used and corrupted by institutions like d Police Force
2/ These so-called Crime Beat Reporters are on the payroll of every Police Command in this country. They resume work at the Commands and keep information about conferences among their members. It’s an exclusive, dark list of deadbeat reporters who give no hoot about the profession.
3/After every Parade and having satisfied their paymasters, envelopes will be distributed discreetly by the Chairman of Crime Beat Reporters in that Command who keeps tight control and will not allow questions from ‘outsiders’ journos who will ask un-choreographed hard questions
4/I noticed this pattern during the Uyo parade. The suddenness of the parade. The diversionary questions are typical of Nigerian Crime Reporters. It’s a staged managed conference. All the reporters know the drill. No probing questions that will embarrass the police
5/What I am saying here is not a secret. Many Senior and Chief Editors in the media know this but are silent either because they are complicit or get returns from the reporters. Journalists covering the crime beat are major contributors to the corruption in the Criminal Justice System
6/Journalists covering Crime have stayed on the beat for years. They have become corrupted by the system and will do anything to stay on the same beat. Add this to the poor remuneration in the media and you understand why Uyo happened. This is happening every day across Police Commands
7/The effect of Media Corruption on the Criminal Justice System is seen in how Crime Reporters criminalize suspects during parades. They don’t care about the Presumption of Innocence until proven guilty. This is the reason why many innocent Nigerians are in prison without trial
8/Uyo will continue to happen as long as the searchlight is not beamed on media corruption that enabled the charade. The Nigerian Media must remove the log from its eyes before it can hold leaders accountable. Only then can #JusticeForHinyUmoren and others be achieved
