The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on judges to ensure they uphold the rule of law in the course of their duty, urging them to refrain from delivering judgments that would portray the judiciary in a bad light.
The president of the association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), made this statement on Sunday, emphasizing that every delivered judgment can affect the socio-economic situation of the country.
Osigwe’s comments come amidst an influx of conflicting court orders in recent times, particularly during the prolonged Kano Emirate tussle and the ongoing supremacy battle in Rivers State. On September 4, 2024, Justice I. Igwe of the River State High Court in Port Harcourt ordered the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct the state local government elections using the 2023 voters’ register. The judge also ordered the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to provide necessary protection during the election process.
However, on September 30, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voters’ register to the RSIEC for the conduct of the local government polls in the state. Justice Lifu also barred the Inspector General of Police and the Department of the State Service from providing security for the purported election.
Speaking on the conflicting judgments, Osigwe said, “Judges should not give judgment that would portray court in a bad light and or bring about social and economic problems for the country.”
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer