The Federal High Court of Nigeria (FHC) has condemned the use of a photograph of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in media reports about the murder of retired Delta State High Court judge, Justice Ifeoma Okogwu.
The court issued the statement on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, emphasizing that Justice Ojukwu is alive and currently serving.
The photograph was reportedly used in connection with the murder of Justice Okogwu, whose body was discovered in her Asaba home on 27 November 2025, with her hands, legs, and mouth bound.
Authorities described the crime as a violent, targeted attack.
In its statement, the FHC described the use of Justice Ojukwu’s image as “false, misleading, malicious,” and called it defamatory and professionally irresponsible.
The court demanded immediate removal of all posts, articles, broadcasts, and digital content containing the erroneous image, as well as a public retraction and written apology.
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The FHC warned that failure to comply could lead to civil or criminal proceedings against individuals or organisations responsible.
It urged media outlets, journalists, bloggers, and online publishers to rigorously verify facts and images before publishing, particularly in cases involving judicial officers.
The court noted that the misuse of Justice Ojukwu’s photograph caused emotional distress to her, her family, colleagues, and the wider judicial community.