Nigeria's Judiciary: A tool for political expediency »

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunus

The judiciary, being one of the tiers of government, is a collection of judges and justices who interpret the law binding on the citizenry of a country. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, this set of people who are expected to uphold the rule of law have, on a countless record, compromised the law for their selfish desires. The cliche: “No one eats his cake and have it” has become archaic in the realm of politics in Nigeria as judges do the bidding of politicians provided that their bills are well footed. Politicians are eating their cakes and having it– as they wish. And the court isn’t the last hope of a common man anymore.

Being cognisant of a few records/events in Nigeria, you would attest to the fact that the judicial system of the country has highly been compromised. Politicians now steal, outrageously, from the government’s coffers without panicking because they have what pleases the judges to make them upturn justice in their favour. Electoral malpractices have become norms and wise tactics to win an election knowing that with a watering offer, judges would help them manufacture technicalities that would exonerate them.

One quick and convincing scenario is the emirship tussle going on in Kano. No any sane human being would argue that the ongoing royal rumble in Kano state isn’t political. It has ridiculed the judicial system of the country in its entirety. Governor Abba claimed that the right thing–which is the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi ll, should be done in order to enjoy the pristine prestige of the Emirates which had long been lost by removing a sitting Emir appointed by his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

The former Governor, being one of the investors in the success of Tinubu’s administration, is wielding orders from the federal wing of the nation orchestrating the removal of the reinstated Emir and reinstatement of the dethroned Aminu Ado through a judge, whom, despite not in the country, was said to have passed such judgement. In a stark contrast, the State High court responded–ordering the eviction of the deposed Aminu Ado and affirming the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi ll. The length and height to which politicians go in order to achieve their aim is overwhelming. And, they have little or no regard for any consequent outcome of such action of theirs on their subjects. Clashes between the supporters of these ‘Emirs’ could erupt into a chaotic environment for the residents.

Sometimes, I wonder what manner of greed would make such personalities– our judges–people whom have been provided with all forms of insurances and luxuries due to the position they hold, to subvert justice knowing fully well that they will account for all of their actions before their creator on the day of reckoning. This, also, justify the fact that most of our judges are far away from God.

Legal profession was my first love but, the burning desire to go into the field died due to reasons in which the fear of being an accomplice to a case of justice being subverted was one of them. It’s very hard to escape it as some politicians even go to the extent of blackmailing judges in order to do their bidding. For this reason, I salute and celebrate the few honest and just judges we have.

In Nigeria, presently, you would have to play dirty in order to have your motives realised. No integrity, honesty and discipline–values of such are now strange in the corridors of our judiciary, and if found–which is a rare scenario–people would go extra mile celebrating because those values are more like a dinosaur now.

As one of my uncles would say: “It would have been beautiful and everything would have been in order if only God would decree for a disappearance of currency for a moment in our lives while he sustain us.” Who knows, maybe it would have been better. But I fear that with this level of greediness in which our judges have soaked themselves with, they might, still, subvert justice through barter. They’re so unpredictable with the manner in which they confidently declare a black to be white.

The problem of this country lies in the arms of government we have: executive, legislature and the judiciary. Until they are fixed, they will continue harming the well being of this country. Hence, they are referred to as the three ‘harms’ of government not arms.

Yusuf Danjuma Yunus is currently a 300 level student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a Columnist at InsidestoryNG. He can be reached via: theonlygrandeur@gmail.com