November 27, (THEWILL) The Lagos State People Democratic Party (PDP), Elders Forum, rose from its meeting in Lagos on Monday, saying the judiciary has lost its credibility.
It said this is not the best of times for the judiciary in Nigeria.
Addressing journalists after their meeting in Ikoyi, Lagos, former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, on behalf of about 33 other PDP leaders which include; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele and Chief Mrs Onikepo Oshodi, said “Nigerians no longer trust the Third Estate of the Realm ”
George said, what is oozing out from the third arm of government in the world’s most populous black nation is offensive to millions of Nigerians, saying when the Judiciary is compromised, one way or the other, in a democratic system, then democracy is gone.
He said many Nigerians believe that members of the Executive and Legislature are already living on a different planet, saying they see the Judiciary as the last ‘Estate’, standing in the ‘Realm’.
He said: “In Nigeria, there are hundreds of Judges upholding the sanctity of the judiciary. They do not only give judgements but they deliver Justice. Nigerians still believe in them.
“But, because of conflicting and contradictory judgements coming from a few, the belief of many Nigerians in the judiciary is understandably shaken. And this is worrisome because if the people don’t believe in the Third Arm of Government anymore, anarchy looms.
“Today, many Nigerians point to some corrupt judges who escape unscathed to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth because the system is weak or compromised to do a proper investigation.
“We now have a situation in which courageous judges, who refuse to do the bidding of ‘powers that be’ are accused of being corrupt and forced to resign.
What an irony!
“In many political cases, millions of people believe, and rightly so, that some judges deliver Judgements, not Justice.
“The judiciary, recently, and to the embarrassment of millions of Nigerians, has not lived above board. There are many conflicting judgements from courts of coordinate jurisdiction that Nigerians begin to wonder:
“So, the questions being asked today are, among others: ‘What exactly is the problem of the judiciary? Where did we get it wrong? Why is it difficult for the judiciary to assert its control over politicians and political parties? Why are technicalities being used to affirm electoral heists and in the process, undermine the will of the people and silence them? What is the meaning of a ‘typographical error’ when a judgement has already been delivered? Is it, according to some Nigerians, that the ‘real’ judgement was pushed aside and another read which has now led to a ‘typographical error’?
“Injustice delivery and matters of life and death, judges are next to God. That is why anything that comes from the court is final, especially from the apex court in the land – the Supreme Court. There is nowhere to go again after the Supreme Court says Yes or No on a matter before it. It is the final bus stop.
“So, any pronouncement from our courts must be infallible. But, when people begin to question the judgement of a particular court, it shows that there is a crisis in the polity. And this is totally unacceptable in Nigeria in 2023.
“What do we have in the country today? Some courts constantly come to the rescue of the selected political elite, either in political or criminal cases.
“Embarrassingly, there are now incessant conflicting ex-parte orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“Many Nigerians see this as a cankerworm affecting the Judiciary. Stories of millions of dollars now fly around, especially in political cases!
“Obviously, the unholy alliances between some politicians and judges are dangerous to our democracy.
“Millions of people will come out on the day of the election, queue, collect ballot papers, cast their votes for their preferred candidates, results will be announced and everybody will jubilate only for three, five or seven judges to upturn the popular will of the people. What an affront!
“Pitiably, we now have a situation in which politicians who did not participate in party primaries are affirmed by the judiciary as the candidates because of ‘technicalities’.
“That is why Nigerians strongly believe that some members of the Executive suppress and intimidate Judges, just to get favourable judgements.
“Electoral verdict should be the sole responsibility of the electorate but it has now been turned upside down. It is now “government of the judiciary, by the judiciary, for the judiciary”.
“Democracy should be about the people, exercising their fundamental human rights, not being goaded, as we are presently witnessing. Now, Judges select who should be members of the House of Representatives, Senators, Governors and even the President. What kind of electoral system are we running that all vices, electoral crimes, defects and manipulations cannot be checked before the general elections?”
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
