Performance of Nigerian Newspapers in Accurate Reportage of Selected Supreme Court Decisions

Abstract

Abstract: Previous studies have focused on the Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) from a wide range of perspectives. But literature search reveals a dearth of studies on media reportage of SCN’s decisions and the extent to which the media accurately communicate the judgments to the public. This study evaluates the magnitude and accuracy of media reports on six selected decisions of the apex court. Social responsibility theory provided the theoretical framework. Primary data was collected from the reports of the selected newspapers while certified Supreme Court judgments of the selected cases formed the secondary data. The decisions evaluated included the Ibori's ex-convict status controversy; the legality of ex-Governor Ladoja's impeachment; the validity of 2007 electoral victory of Governor Wamakko and President Umaru Yar'Adua; the ownership tussle between Akwa Ibom and Cross River over 76 oil wells and the tenure elongation suit. The Guardian, The Punch, Daily Trust and Daily Sun newspapers were selected for the study based on ownership and national circulation. Twenty-four editions of the newspapers were selected for content analysis. A 14-item coding sheet was the instrument of data collection. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The selected newspapers were fairly accurate (57.5%) in communicating the decisions of the SCN. The Guardian newspaper had the most accurate reports (76%), while the Daily Sun had the least accurate reports (44.7%). The study found that the magnitude and degree of accuracy of the newspaper reports depended on the nature of the case facts, the political weight of the parties involved in the dispute, nature of the judgments handed down by the SCN in the cases, and the individual newspapers owing to ownership interest, location and their editorial policies.