By NIGER Delta-born human rights and peace advocate, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, has urged President Bola Tinubu to rescue the independence and integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary.
Comrade Mulade
Mulade emphasised the importance of the judiciary as a pillar of democracy and the last hope of the common man.
Court room
In a statement made available to journalists on Monday, the Gbaramatu Kingdom chief expressed worries over recent contentious judgements in some of the courts.
Appealing to Tinubu to restore confidence in the judiciary, he averred:
“Mr. President, it has become necessary to formally appeal to you to salvage our judiciary, which is the core of society and democracy.
“A fair and independent judiciary ensures fairness, equity, and justice for all Nigerians. Without it, our democratic system is at risk of crumbling under the weight of political interests.
“We are deeply worried about some recent judgments that have created confusion, chaos, and threatened to erode the reverence and trust in our justice system.
“Nigeria’s judiciary has been the beacon of hope, not just for Nigerians, but for the African continent.
“However, political interference and vested interests are putting our judicial integrity under severe pressure.
“We are witnessing a worrying trend where the judiciary is being politicized, and certain judgments are driven by political interests rather than the rule of law.
“Comrade Sheriff Mulade further highlighted a troubling pattern in which judges, particularly in the Federal and State High Courts, dismiss public-interest cases on technical grounds.
“It is alarming how often cases of national importance are dismissed based on technicalities, preventing the judiciary from addressing the real merits of the case.
“This practice frustrates the hopes of ordinary Nigerians seeking justice.”
According to him, “I want to strongly appeal to Mr President and our revered judges to save Nigeria judiciary integrity irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliation.
“It is worthy of note that the failure of the Nigeria judiciary will create room for chaos and anarchy that will lead to self-defence by Nigerians.
“Therefore, political judges in the judiciary should resign to save our justice system and the people before mass protest.
“It is imperative to conclude by calling on President Tinubu to take immediate steps to ensure the full independence of the judiciary and to restore public trust in the legal system.
“Our democracy cannot survive if the judiciary is compromised. We implore you, Mr. President, to act decisively and protect the independence of the judiciary.
“This is a critical step toward ensuring fairness, justice, and equality for all Nigerians.”
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