The rate at which our Institutions are submitting to the shenanigans of politicians theses days is seriously alarming and disturbing.
Security apparatuses and Electoral Bodies have become willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians.
Our elections have become mere necessary exercises.
The results were long determined before the commencement of the exercises.
Technologies developed to checkmate malpractices and improve the quality of the process have been compromised by politicians and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Those who are conniving with the Security Agencies and INEC to manipulate the processes have become recklessly brazen.
” We will capture this and that” they are boasting.
I would have been optimistic if the last line of defence has not been breached.
Unfortunately, that line has not only been breached. It has collapsed completely and fallen into the hands of desperate politicians.
When you read about the activities from our Courts these days, there is no way you would not share my fears and anxieties.
Our Courts have become willing tools in the hands of politicians.
Sometimes you read about the activities of some Judges and began to wonder, is this really happening?
The interventions of the Courts in Rivers, Kano and the issues around the conflicts within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has given the Judiciary out as one on a mission against Democracy.
We have gone back to the days of frivolous ex parte Orders, conflicting judgments from courts of coordinate jurisdictions and have graduated to a level where matters are being heard and resolved online in the middle of the night!
I must admit that since I became an adult, I have never perceived, seen or heard of interference in the judicial process by politicians as what we are presently witnessing.
The judicial process has been completely captured by politicians.
The brazenness with which the judiciary is nakedly dancing to the music played by desperate politicians is shameful and annoying.
It has reached a stage where Government officials proudly and publicly declare what the decisions of ongoing court cases would be and it will happen exactly as they predicted.
A system has now developed where cases where Government functionaries have interest always found their ways to the table of specific judges.
Territorial jurisdictions no longer matter.
Definition of jurisdictions between states and federal High Courts no longer matter once the politicians are interested.
Not only are Courts of coordinate jurisdictions overruling themselves, even, states and federal High Courts are now bold enough to overrule the Supreme Court!
Rules and Procedures for our Courts now count for nothing.
The discretionary powers exercised by our judges are now beyond limits.
We are in soup.
In all this commotions, a particular character is a common feature.
His name is Nyesom Wike. Former Governor of Rivers state and the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Wike is currently locked in a battle of supremacy with the Governor of Rivers state, Siminalaye Fubara.
That battle of supremacy between two politicians has terribly exposed the Nigerian judiciary.
I will not go in to the nitty gritty of the plethora of cases involving loyalists of Nyesom Wike and his estranged godson, Fubara.
However, there is no way you will look at the activities of the Federal High Court in the scenarios unfolding in Rivers state and you won’t shudder in disbelief.
I read a piece yesterday where the writer made reference to ” Nyesomised” judges and I said, how did we come to this terrible point?
I am sure the judiciary itself is aware of this unfortunate reality, but for the purpose of emphasis, I must repeat it that the Nigerian public has not only lost confidence in the judiciary, they also no longer have any iota of respect for the once noble establishment.
The activities of the judiciary in both of Rivers and Kano states leave a very sour taste in the mouth.
The interventions of the judiciary in matters involving opposition political parties also call for concerns.
I have kept wondering. What has happened to the National Judicial Council, the Body saddled with the responsibilities of discipling erring members of the Bench?
Does that Body exist again?
I think we have come to a point where critical stakeholders must consider taking away the responsibilities of heading the NJC from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.
That practice is no longer healthy for our Democracy.
Like I said in the opening paragraphs, Nigeria could do with a corrupt Security architecture and Electoral Umpire if the judiciary is firm and committed to doing justice without fear or favor.
Once the judiciary is captured, that is all.
Unfortunately, the ones currently partnering with the judiciary in this frightening adventures are reckless both in character and in words.
The integrity of the Judiciary means nothing to them once their sadistic egos have been taken care of.
Whenever they did whatever they needed to do with the judiciary in some dark corners, they always lack the patience and saw no need to keep sealed lips about their devilish actions.
Even the dignity and integrity of the compromised judge means nothing to them.
They will always rush to the press to beat their chests about what the judiciary would do!
I do not blame them. I blame those who swore to do justice to all manner of people without fear or favor but who submitted themselves to be compromised by reckless politicians.
The word ” capture” is now in vogue.
Why won’t power drunk politicians talk about capturing of territories in a Democracy when they are certain that those who ought to put them in line have been captured?
I won’t be surprised if in some days now we see a situation where Federal High Courts would deliver judgments, overruling the decision of the Supreme Court in a matter relating to the resources of Local Governments.
Why won’t they? After all, there are territories to be captured in Kano and Rivers states and those who want to capture the territories know that even those who once said you can not stop monthly Allocations for Local Governments would found justifications to overrule themselves.
How exactly did we get here!?
Sola Abegunde
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