Is the judiciary system still the last hope of the common man in Nigeria? – Com Prince Saviour Iche
By Onome Naomi
Comrade Prince Saviour, Convener of AMPEF solely engaged in human rights activities as voice for the voiceless expressed profound dissatisfaction in the judicial system as seen in recent episodes regarding the Naira Swap policy, the presidential election irregular factors, the Nnamdi Kanu issue and many other matters that concerns rulings that was countered by the Federal Govt, the presidency.
He stated that the judiciary is said to be the last hope of the common man, disappointingly they have sold their birth rights to the FGN. Since the inception of the administration, the judiciary have been subjected to ridicule due to its wavering stands on judgements passed about sensitive issues of the nation, after ruling there should be effectiveness, Iche asserted.
Comrade Iche also noted that since the present administration entered into power, the judiciary has not taken firm stands after a certain ruling which has led to flouted orders by the governmment. This same government are the ones appointing judges thereby narrowing their horizon to do their biddings, to keep a stained garment. Lack of fair judgement in the law court is also a call for concern, a singular reason why we get to witness cases been taken from one court to another either to appeal or get a Supreme judgement due to unsatisfactory ruling.
The Supreme Court has the highest of orders in Nigeria legal system and should make firm its decisions by seeing to its latter to make sure the Federal Govt never flouts its order but harken immediately to its pronouncement not give rulings based on who is with the money bag, the highest bidding thereby compromising on true justice, Saviour stated.
The Naira Note Policy and its hullabaloo
Comrade Prince Saviour said that this is not the first time Supreme court ruling on Naira note issue is disregarded by FGN. The judgement states that both new and old naira notes should co- exist until 31st of December 2023, yet there has been no effectiveness in carrying out the order which makes judiciary seem inefficient in handling sensitive national issues of concern. A situation whereby the Attorney General of the Federation is a card carrier of the ruling party, How do you think he will work against his master? When the same judge is appointed by the Federal Govt who has In turn taken over the decisions rather than carry out a judgement with immediate effect, thereby putting Nigerians into derision.
The wavering Judicial prowess
The world is making mockery of our Judiciary for they do not have a mind of their own. When the electorates are being maltreated they should have the confidence to run to the judiciary for fairness. The presidential election was rigged yet our judiciary is speaking from different mouths due to federal government scrutiny, “where then is the last hope for the common man in Nigeria?”If the judiciary system is independent without intrusion or directives from the federal govt, everyother tiers of the government would respect boundaries.
The disregard melted out on our judiciary system by the presidency is alarming, there has been countless rulings that has been disregarded by the Federal government which arouses curiosity as to whether we have a working judiciary system. In observance of the Nnamdi Kanu case, who was pronounced free but was held by DSS under the order of the presidency against court ruling, the Naira note issue is another which has made the masses to believe that the federal govt is dictating for the judiciary, the judiciary in turn is incapacitated. This is because they have sold their conscience to do whatever the FGN bids, Iche noted.
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Comrade Iche further said,
“The masses is helpless if the judiciary that could have been a reliable support has been enveloped and hijacked by the FGN. The banks are not giving both old and new notes and the judiciary are silent.
The Election was rigged yet our judiciary is twisting issues, speaking from different mouths. This is democracy yet no check and balancing in its activities, it is an error for the Federal govt to dictate for judges, the costly mistake of FG intrusion should be corrected to avoid a collapse of the judiciary system.
The present administration is setting a bad example for the subsequent presidentially elected leaders, even state governors do not obey court orders in Nigeria. The deliberate flout of court order(Contempt) due to money settling of judges has to be put to check to avoid a retrogressive nation. We are not in the military regime but democracy, where things are done accordingly and boundaries are respected, the FGN is dabbling into the affairs of the judiciary due to laxity in its system. “
