An Ikeja Customary Court in Lagos on Thursday banned the media from covering its proceedings.
It insisted that the order was from the Judicial Service Commission.
A court registrar, simply identified as Yomi, told journalists that he would forcefully order them out of the courtroom.
“We do not allow journalists into the court room to report proceedings due to the type of high profile cases and the calibre of people that come into this particular court”, he said.
“The order not to allow journalists cover proceedings in this court is from above,” he said.
He insisted that if any journalist comes into this court to report proceedings, he will walk the person out.
He said: “I have walked journalists out of the court before with the backing of the President of the court.
“Ikeja Customary Court is the number one court in Lagos State because of the calibre of people and cases that are filed there.
“You can never hear any news on marriage dissolution emanating from this particular court.”
Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides that the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter.
Also Section 39 (1) states that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.
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