The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed apprehension over the current state of the judiciary in Nigeria. In a statement released by NEF’s Convener, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, the organization highlighted the need for the judiciary to exercise caution in order to preserve its integrity, public trust, and confidence.
NEF recognizes the critical role played by an impartial judiciary in upholding the rule of law, safeguarding democratic principles, ensuring justice, protecting citizens’ rights, and maintaining the credibility of the electoral process.
The Forum called on all levels of the judiciary to uphold the highest ethical standards and impartiality in their decision-making processes. It emphasized the importance of judges exhibiting unwavering integrity and resilience, particularly when adjudicating cases related to elections.
The judiciary serves as a crucial pillar in sustaining constitutional democracy by upholding the rule of law, protecting individual rights, and providing checks and balances on the other branches of government. However, any failure on the part of the judiciary to fulfill its responsibilities can have severe implications for the stability and functioning of a democratic society.
NEF expressed concern that the current trend may encourage politicians to perceive politics as a “do-or-die affair.” When the judiciary fails to effectively adjudicate disputes and hold politicians accountable for their actions, it creates an environment in which corruption thrives, power is abused, and democratic principles are disregarded. Such erosion of trust in the judiciary can lead to a breakdown of democratic norms and values, ultimately undermining the legitimacy of the political system.
A collapsing judiciary also jeopardizes the safeguarding of constitutionalism, as it is the judiciary’s role to ensure that laws and policies conform to constitutional principles. Without a functioning judiciary, constitutional violations may go unchecked, resulting in a loss of public confidence in the democratic process and the erosion of citizens’ rights and freedoms.
NEF stressed the importance of a fair and transparent judicial system for fostering public trust, confidence, and belief in the democratic process. The Forum urged the judiciary to consider the consequences of its actions and decisions, striving to uphold the rule of law in all its activities to justify the confidence placed in it by Nigerians.
NEF called on the public to remain vigilant regarding the direction the nation’s judiciary is taking and encouraged them to expose any perceived misconduct on the part of the judiciary. The Forum firmly believes that a strong and incorruptible judiciary is crucial for the development and progress of Nigeria, and it will closely monitor the judiciary’s conduct while advocating for its ethical revitalization to safeguard the interests of all Nigerians.
