My very last post was on the death of the late Adegoke, the OAU postgraduate student who died at the Hilton Hotel and Resort in Ile Ife.
Among other things, I commiserated with the family and friends of the deceased.
I then advised that the accused should not be given a media trial. In many cases, when an incident has been judged in the court of public opinion, and the court acquits the accused, they find it difficult to be free in the court of public opinion.
Not only that, but family members also bear a lot of brunt.
Apart from that, being tried in the court of public opinion is next to jungle justice.
There’s nothing to beat being tried in a properly constituted court.
Some of the contributors would have none of that. They felt it was right. However, after an accused is tried via social media, what happens?
I know Nigerian courts are not the best places to get justice compared with those in advanced countries, but no system is perfect.
Check out the USA, where Malcolm X was
assassinated in 1965. Two men convicted of the killing were acquitted of the offence last week.
Furthermore, the people make a judicial system.
Anyone who believes in media trial over and above a properly constituted court is only a mischief maker.
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