P.M. News Tuesday November 27 2001
Lawyer Threatens Showdown With Lagos Chief Judge
A Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, has threatened to sue the state Chief Judge, Justice Ibitola Sotuminu over her recent decision to ban the sale of SQUIB magazine within the court premises.
Speaking with P.M.News, Mr. Ogunlana, who is also the publisher of the magazine which specializes in reporting the ills of the state judiciary, described Justice Sotuminu’s action as illegal and dictatorial.
According to him, since other wares are displayed in the court premises, it is unfair for the Chief Judge to ban his publication.
Earlier, SQUIB agents had a raw deal from the private guards employed by the state judiciary when the security men ordered the ejection of its vendors from the court premises.
The ejection followed a notice signed by the state Chief Registrar, Mrs. Taiwo, who announced the ban on sale of the magazine.
The statement titled: “Ban On Sales of ‘SQUIB’ Magazine Within Lagos State Court Premises” stated that “following the directives of the state chief judge, the sales of the magazine is banned.”
Reacting, the publisher said the battleline has been drawn with the Chief Judge as the only legal thing for her to do was either to report the publisher to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for a disciplinary action or at worst institute a libel suit against him.
The situation got worse when three policemen from Area ‘F’ Police Stattion Ikeja were invited to stop the sales and distribution of SQUIB at the High Court premises.
In the statement, Mr. Ogunlana said the magazine is freely committed to fighting all manner of injustice and would never be intimidated by those who feel offended. He, however, demanded an apology from Continental Guards, a security company employed to provide security in the court premises for violation of his rights.
Related links:
www.thesquib.com
www.squibdiary.wordpress.com
www.learnedsquib.wordpress.com
www.squibanticorruption.com
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