The Ondo state Judiciary has described as misleading, the use of Justice P.O Ikujuni’s Photograph by online publication reporting the sentencing of a man to 10 years imprisonment by a magistrate court in the state.
A statement by the Chief Registrar, the state High Court of Justice, Ayodeji Akinsanya on Friday in Akure, the Judiciary said the publication was not only misleading but also a misrepresentation that did not emanate from any court in the state Judiciary.
Akinsanya said, “The attention of the Ondo State Judiciary has been drawn to a trending online publication reporting the sentencing of a man to 10 years imprisonment by a Magistrate Court in Ondo State for open grazing and destruction of farm crops reportedly worth N10 million.
“The said report referenced Magistrate D.S. Sekoni as the presiding magistrate responsible for the sentence.
“However, the Ondo State Judiciary is deeply concerned that the image accompanying the story is that of Honourable Justice P.O. Ikujuni, a Judge of the High Court of Ondo State, who has no connection whatsoever to the case or the proceedings in question.
“This misrepresentation is misleading, unjustified, and capable of causing serious reputational damage to Honourable Justice P.O. Ikujuni, as well as confusion within the public domain regarding the judicial officer responsible for the decision.
“We therefore strongly demand that the publishers of the said story take immediate steps to:
1.Remove the image of Honourable Justice P.O. Ikujuni from the publication and any associated platforms;
2 Issue a correction clearly dissociating Honourable Justice Ikujuni from the case;
3.Exercise due diligence in future publications to avoid similar erroneous or defamatory representations.
“The Ondo State Judiciary maintains its commitment to transparency, truth, and the protection of the integrity and dignity of all judicial officers.
“The public is hereby advised to disregard any association of Honourable Justice P.O. Ikujuni with the referenced case, as it is entirely incorrect and misleading.”
