The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, Abdulgafar Alabelewe, has criticised the exclusion of journalists from the ongoing trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

Alabelewe said reporters have been denied access to courtroom proceedings since the trial began, forcing them to depend on post-hearing briefings from legal representatives.

He described the situation as “unfortunate,” warning that restricting media access to court proceedings undermines transparency, particularly in cases involving issues of public interest such as corruption and security.

According to him, the absence of direct media coverage limits the ability of journalists to accurately report proceedings and hold institutions accountable.

He also noted that the development is not isolated, citing previous instances where journalists were barred from courtrooms or subjected to limited access under the pretext of managing crowd control.

Alabelewe further alleged that, in some cases, individuals without direct involvement in proceedings were granted entry based on status, while accredited journalists were excluded.

He expressed concern that reliance on second-hand information from lawyers could lead to inaccurate or conflicting reports, recalling similar experiences during the 2023 post-election tribunal hearings.

The NUJ chairman also raised safety concerns, noting that journalists left outside court premises may be exposed to potential threats.

Legal practitioners and media stakeholders have similarly criticised the restrictions, arguing that open court proceedings are essential to upholding constitutional principles and public trust in the justice system.