The Nigeria Judiciary And The Challenge of Nation Building

In every democratic setting like Nigeria, there are four estates of the State made up of the Legislature, the Executive, the Judiciary, and the Civil Society (comprising the Press and the NGOs). The legislature makes laws, the executive implement laws, the judiciary interprets laws, and the Civil Society serve as the whistleblower. The success or failure of any democratic experience depends largely on the effectiveness or otherwise of these institutions.

Over the years, the Nigeria judiciary has contributed immensely to the growth and development of democracy. In this regard, one remembers the pivotal role played by it during the Federal Government vs Lagos State case instituted by the later under the able leadership of His Excellency, Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu. What about the Amaechi vs INEC case?

Yet it has played some ignoble roles too. The twelve two-third saga, we read about. The annulment of June 12 is equally fresh in our memory, but it seems it has never gone worse like we are witnessing in recent time. Today, conflicting and confusing judgement is the order of the day. It is also a commonplace to hear of allegations of bribery and scandal against judges and lawyers such that one is forced to ask whether the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man?

Or what do one say, when a man who stole a phone of hundred thousand naira is sent to 25 years imprisonment, but a man who stole over $25 billion is sentenced to 3 years imprisonment with the option of fine of #300,000?

The question here is should the judiciary be blamed for its woes and failures? The answer is neither here nor there. First, the judiciary is a product of the larger society in which almost all institutions cannot be absorbed of corrupt tendencies. For instance, the giving of conflicting judgement will not arise if nobody approaches the courts, and the allegations of corruption will be nonexistence if nobody is offering the bribe to the judges or the lawyers.

Despite this argument above, the Judiciary indeed do not have an excuse to be embroiled in controversy as it is today if the bar and the bench will do their jobs as expected. Unfortunately, the judges and the lawyers are part of the Nigeria get-rich-quick syndrome, hence, all caution is being thrown to the wind.

This trend must not continue, otherwise, the future of Nigeria democracy appears bleak. Indeed, the judiciary must reform itself or it will lose its relevance and pride in entirety and the Nigeria nation will be the greatest loser. This is because neither the legislature nor the executive possesses the necessary tools and political will to do so.

Seriously, the Nigeria temple of justice needs complete overhauling and cleansing. The Nigeria Judicial Council and the Nigeria Bar Association must rise to occasion to defend the noble profession before its go down the drain and dismantle our hard earned democratic system. Erring members of the judiciary must be made to face the wrath of the law. Fencing sitting on a controversial cases like the recent PDP saga may after all not be the best, proactive advice and decision must be made by the NJC.

In addition, the recruitment process of men and women of the temple of justice needs to be more thourogh. In fact, there may be need for adminsitration of intergity test to students before they are admitted to study, and more importantly before lawyaers are called to bar.

God bless my fatherland!

God bless Nigeria!!