The Ondo State Judiciary has condemned the wrongful use of a photograph of Honourable Justice P.O. Ikujuni, a Judge of the High Court of Ondo State, in an online publication relating to a case handled by a magistrate court.
In a statement issued in Akure and signed by the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Justice, Mr. Ayodeji Akinsanya, the judiciary described the publication as “misleading and unjustified,” stressing that the matter reported did not originate from any court under the Ondo State Judiciary.
The publication in question reported the sentencing of a man to 10 years imprisonment by a Magistrate Court in Ondo State for alleged open grazing and destruction of farm crops valued at N10 million. The report cited Magistrate D.S. Sekoni as the presiding officer but, controversially, featured a photograph of Justice Ikujuni.
“The Ondo State Judiciary is deeply concerned that the image accompanying the story is that of Honourable Justice P.O. Ikujuni, who has no connection whatsoever to the case or the proceedings in question,” the statement read.
According to Akinsanya, this misrepresentation has the potential to cause reputational damage to the judge and sow confusion among the public regarding the judicial officer responsible for the ruling.
The judiciary has therefore issued a stern demand to the publishers of the report to:
Immediately remove the image of Justice P.O. Ikujuni from the publication and all associated platforms;
Issue a correction clearly dissociating the judge from the case;
Exercise due diligence in future to avoid such erroneous and defamatory representations.
“The Ondo State Judiciary remains firmly committed to transparency, truth, and the protection of the integrity and dignity of all judicial officers,” Akinsanya added.
He also urged the public to disregard any attempt to associate Justice Ikujuni with the referenced case, describing it as “entirely incorrect and misleading.”
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