* Nigerian Court in session 
The Nigerian judiciary may be heading for its next stage of growth if the prayers to allow  live broadcast of court proceedings as advocated  for by 
Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights, CASER, a pro-human rights group is granted.

 TheLedgerng.com reports exclusively that CASER has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, requesting him to "Consider and approve the live broadcast of court proceedings in compliance  with Sections 36 (3) & 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999  (as amended)."

 The letter dated February 26 and received in the office of the CJN  the same day argued that live broadcast of court proceedings would raise the standard of court delivery and impact  positively on the socio-political development of Nigeria especially in the light of the  anti-corruption campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari.

 "The role of the Courts in ensuring justice, public order and the future stability of Nigeria has now begun to take a prominent place in the minds of the citizenry. This is at the background of a heightened anti-corruption campaign by this present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Frank Tietie, Executive Director, CASER stated in the letter he personally signed.

 Elaborating on the motive for CASER's demand, Tietie maintained that if the wider majority of the citizenry are given wider access to Court proceedings via live radio and television broadcasts, it would "enhance the social engineering function of the law in a developing society as ours.

 "It is therefore, our very humble opinion that the import of Section 36(3) & (4) of the  Constitution include the allowance of live radio or televised broadcast of Court proceedings in  Nigeria.

 "Thus, it should be the norm and general rule that court proceedings, especially criminal proceedings such as cases of corruption, electoral fraud with violence and terrorism, be broadcast live in Nigeria" he asserted.

 Tietie, a legal practitioner, noted that CASER's demand is not unmindful of Section 36 (4) (a) which  serves to provide for the seven (7) grounds of exception that can be invoked upon application or in obvious circumstances.
The letter was copied the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, the Attorney-General of the Fedration and
Minister of Justice, the Minister of Information, the Executive Secretary, Human Rights Commission, NHRC and the 
Inspector-General of Police.

 Others copied include Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, the Presidents, Nigeria Union of
Journalists, NUJ, and Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union, RATTAWU, respectively, and the Director-General,

Department of State Services.