• Main News
  • About Us
  • Contact
Premium Times Opinion
Sunday, January 29, 2023
  • Home
  • Democracy and Governance
    • Bámidélé Upfront
    • Jibrin Ibrahim
    • Okey Ndibe
  • Economy
    • Ifeanyi Uddin
  • Issues of the Day
    • Adeolu Ademoyo
    • Aribisala on Tuesday
    • Dele Agekameh
    • Pius Adesanmi
  • Politics
    • Ebeneezer Obadare
    • Femi Fani-Kayode
    • Garba Shehu
    • Hannatu Musawa
    • Zainab Suleiman Okino
  • Guest Columns
  • Faith
    • Article of Faith
    • Sunday Ogidigbo
    • Friday Sermon
    • Elevated Sight
  • Home
  • Democracy and Governance
    • Bámidélé Upfront
    • Jibrin Ibrahim
    • Okey Ndibe
  • Economy
    • Ifeanyi Uddin
  • Issues of the Day
    • Adeolu Ademoyo
    • Aribisala on Tuesday
    • Dele Agekameh
    • Pius Adesanmi
  • Politics
    • Ebeneezer Obadare
    • Femi Fani-Kayode
    • Garba Shehu
    • Hannatu Musawa
    • Zainab Suleiman Okino
  • Guest Columns
  • Faith
    • Article of Faith
    • Sunday Ogidigbo
    • Friday Sermon
    • Elevated Sight
No Result
View All Result
Premium Times Opinion

Reputational Erosion and the Dangers of a Rudderless Judiciary, By Jibrin Ibrahim

by Premium Times
August 22, 2016
Reading Time: 5 mins read
2

Nigerian Judiciary

It is supposed to be the institution that could adjudicate in a manner in which justice could be delivered not withstanding the hierarchy occupied by the accused. What we are witnessing today however is that the reputational erosion occurring with the Judiciary is even worse than that of the Legislature. Who then would save our democracy, which is based on the principle of the Separation of Powers?


Our Constitution has given the leadership of the Judiciary to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council and for some reasons that no one understands; they have completely abdicated the leadership and continue to watch in silence as the judiciary ridicules itself on a daily basis. We cannot sustain our democracy when judges from different courts of coordinate jurisdiction give contradictory judgments on a daily basis and both criminal and political actors have become very aware that there are Jankara judges ready to sell judgments and rulings for a fee without any worry about their personal or institutional reputation.

Two weeks ago, I devoted this column to castigating the explosion of Jankara conflicting judgments on the festering leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which at that time had witnessed seven conflicting judgments. Today, two weeks later, the number of conflicting determinations on the issue has increased to at least fifteen. So many actors are aware that they can secure not only a ruling that they desire, they can even time it to a particular date and hour they want it delivered. I have heard that lists are circulating of judges who are ready to deliver any ruling for a fee, the said judges have been very busy delivering irresponsible judgments and Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, the Chief Justice of the Federation says nothing as he watches Nigerians seeing the show of shame continue.

My concern is that with the crisis of reputational erosion that has hit the National Assembly since the cases against the Senate President Bukola Saraki and the budget padding allegations against Speaker Dogara cropped up, the judiciary assumes an even more important place in the scheme of things. It is supposed to be the institution that could adjudicate in a manner in which justice could be delivered not withstanding the hierarchy occupied by the accused. What we are witnessing today however is that the reputational erosion occurring with the Judiciary is even worse than that of the Legislature. Who then would save our democracy, which is based on the principle of the Separation of Powers? The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come out to explain to the Nigerian public that its constitutional role of monitoring political parties is being compromised by different judges directing it to monitor and not to monitor party conventions – all delivered on the same day. This is after receiving over one dozen conflicting rulings or judgments on the same matter over the previous six weeks. At the same time, the Nigeria Police Force was dragged into the melee last week as one judge asks them to seal a convention venue while another asks them to provide security for the same convention to take place as directed by “law”. Too many institutions are being compromised by these decisions.

I am concerned that the National Judicial Council simply retires judges who have been guilty of Jankara judgments. As most of these judges have become stinking rich precisely because of their criminal behaviour, it is unacceptable that their only “punishment” is retirement. It is actually complicity because they are simply given all the time they need to enjoy the ill-gotten wealth. The NJC must come out to criminalise such behaviour.


Government resources are used to buy newspapers for judges and they read these and know that new matters brought before them had been taken to other courts of coordinate jurisdiction and rulings and judgments have been made. This means they are consciously acting in a manner that conflicts with their code of conduct. If judges continue to act in this manner, it is precisely because the Chief Justice of the Federation and the National Judicial Council have refused to call them to order. I know that this is the period for vacation in the judiciary but the crisis is so serious that a responsible leadership would come back from leave and address the crisis of reputational erosion facing the judiciary, which has reached an epidemic level. As Daily Trust argued in its opinion page yesterday, if the NJC does not call these judges to order, it’s the whole democratic system, not just the judiciary that is under threat. I agree with the Trust Opinion position that: “The role of the Judiciary as an arm of government in a democracy is to resolve conflicts involving individuals, organisations, government and political parties, not to confuse the parties and relevant institutions when cases are taken before it.”

I become even more concerned about the judiciary when I read excerpts of the ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday on the Justice Okon Abang matter annulling the election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Premium Times reported the ruling that the trial judge is guilty of “raping democracy”. It would be recalled that Governor Ikpeazu had been purportedly removed from office on June 27 this year by Justice Abang for allegedly falsifying his tax certificates and must therefore lose his seat to Samson Ogah, also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. The judge forced INEC to issue a certificate of return to Mr. Ogah. Premium Times reported that the Court of Appeal’s five-member panel led by Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju on Thursday ruled that Justice Abang “raped democracy” when he ordered INEC to issue a certificate of return to Mr. Ogah without evidence of forgery against Mr. Ikpeazu. According to the court, the judgement was erroneously based on the inadequacy of tax receipt, which Mr. Ikpeazu cannot be blamed for. The Appellate Judge added that: “After reading through the judgement several times, I was amazed at how the trial Judge arrived at his conclusion of forgery against the appellant when there was no evidence of forgery. To say the least, his findings are ridiculous.” The judge pointed out that Justice Abang embarked on a “wild goose chase” in seeking to help the plaintiff, whose case was not even properly filed in the first instance. The conclusion the panel reached was shocking and interpellant on all of us: “The trial judge spoke from both sides of his mouth when in one breadth, he claimed that he based his findings on supply of false information and in another breadth, he came to the conclusion that the appellant in this matter committed perjury, even when there was no allegation of forgery and no allegation that he did not pay tax.” There can be no clearer judicial proof of the phenomenon of Jankara judgments.

I am concerned that the National Judicial Council simply retires judges who have been guilty of Jankara judgments. As most of these judges have become stinking rich precisely because of their criminal behaviour, it is unacceptable that their only “punishment” is retirement. It is actually complicity because they are simply given all the time they need to enjoy the ill-gotten wealth. The NJC must come out to criminalise such behaviour. Meanwhile, it is imperative that a practice directive be issued putting a stop to conflicting judgments. Finally, the Judiciary owes Nigerian citizens explanations and apologies for allowing the Judiciary run wild and an assurance that they will correct the scandalous practices currently taking place.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of Premium Times.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • Pocket
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Previous Post

Restructuring Our Federation, By Uddin Ifeanyi

Next Post

EDITORIAL: The ANC Reaps Its Political Whirlwind

Related Posts

Trust and Confidence Building As Conditions of Good Governance, By Uddin Ifeanyi
Columns

The Policy Implications of 2021’s Low Growth Projections, By Uddin Ifeanyi

February 1, 2021
Akinwunmi Adesina: Africa’s Spotless Son, By Wole Olaoye
Columns

Iron Woman of Berlin, By Wole Olaoye

January 31, 2021
Rethinking Heroism and the Nigerian Civil Service, By Festus Adedayo
Columns

Aliko Dangote’s Costly Mess of the Libido, By Festus Adedayo

January 31, 2021
Why Lai Mohammed Must Be Fired Immediately, By Femi Aribisala
Article of Faith

Is God Invisible?, By Femi Aribisala

January 31, 2021
Religion As Africa’s Trojan Horse, By Osmund Agbo
Columns

South-East Governors: Preparing For a Post-oil and Restructured Nigeria, By Osmund Agbo

January 30, 2021
People Deserve The Coach They Hire, By Owei Lakemfa
Columns

Again, Entombed Humans Triumph Over Death, By Owei Lakemfa

January 30, 2021
Next Post
EDITORIAL: The ANC Reaps Its Political Whirlwind

EDITORIAL: The ANC Reaps Its Political Whirlwind

Portrait Of APC As The Right Party, By Godwin Onyeacholem

Is this the Change Nigerians Voted For?, By Godwin Onyeacholem

Editorial

  • EDITORIAL: The Urgency of Tackling Nigeria’s Second Wave of COVID-19

    EDITORIAL: The Urgency of Tackling Nigeria’s Second Wave of COVID-19

  • EDITORIAL: Unearthing the Cogent Lessons In the NESG-CBN Economic Policy Imbroglio

    EDITORIAL: Unearthing the Cogent Lessons In the NESG-CBN Economic Policy Imbroglio

  • EDITORIAL: COVID-19: Calling On Nigeria’s Billionaires and Religious Leaders To Step Up

    EDITORIAL: COVID-19: Calling On Nigeria’s Billionaires and Religious Leaders To Step Up

  • EDITORIAL: Bichi Must Go; Buhari Must Halt Slide Into Despotism

    EDITORIAL: Bichi Must Go; Buhari Must Halt Slide Into Despotism

  • EDITORIAL: The Flaws In Governor Emefiele’s Five-Year Plan For Central Bank of Nigeria

    EDITORIAL: The Flaws In Governor Emefiele’s Five-Year Plan For Central Bank of Nigeria

Subscribe to our Opinion articles via email

Enter your email address to get notifications of new opinion articles as they are published.

Join 526,545 other subscribers

Most Popular

  • The Bad Consequences and Dangers of Adultery and Fornication (Zina) In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    The Bad Consequences and Dangers of Adultery and Fornication (Zina) In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • The Qualities of a Good Leader In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    The Qualities of a Good Leader In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • Islam and the Conditions For Marrying More Than One Wife, By Murtadha Gusau
    Islam and the Conditions For Marrying More Than One Wife, By Murtadha Gusau
  • World Teachers Day and The Position of Teachers In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    World Teachers Day and The Position of Teachers In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • You Will Be Held Responsible On What Happened To Your Children!, By Murtadha Gusau
    You Will Be Held Responsible On What Happened To Your Children!, By Murtadha Gusau
  • The Dangers of Evil and Misguided Clerics/Scholars In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    The Dangers of Evil and Misguided Clerics/Scholars In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
  • The Women Prohibited For Men To Marry In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau
    The Women Prohibited For Men To Marry In Islam, By Murtadha Gusau

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Podcasts

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

  • Main News
  • About Us
  • Contact

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Democracy and Governance
    • Bámidélé Upfront
    • Jibrin Ibrahim
    • Okey Ndibe
  • Economy
    • Ifeanyi Uddin
  • Issues of the Day
    • Adeolu Ademoyo
    • Aribisala on Tuesday
    • Dele Agekameh
    • Pius Adesanmi
  • Politics
    • Ebeneezer Obadare
    • Femi Fani-Kayode
    • Garba Shehu
    • Hannatu Musawa
    • Zainab Suleiman Okino
  • Guest Columns
  • Faith
    • Article of Faith
    • Sunday Ogidigbo
    • Friday Sermon
    • Elevated Sight

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
 

Loading Comments...