Judgement on Orji Uzor Kalu: Mere mockery of the judiciary in Nigeria -Prof. Okolie

Posted by FN Editor | 4 years ago | 1,671 times



The president, Nigerian Political Science Association, NPSA, Prof. Aloysius-Michael Okolie, has described the recent judgement on the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, by the apex court as a mere mockery of the judicial system in Nigeria.

The Political scientist who spoke at Nsukka on Tuesday said that the judgement was made to extract some undefined political commitment for 2023 from Kalu before granting him freedom.

He added that the imposition of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, destroyed the foundation of the institution and quashed the confidence of the masses on the system.

According to him, "It is important to handmark the following axioms about the judiciary in Nigeria: " The overt and subtle manipulation of the judiciary through ill advised and criminal imposition of the present CJN destroyed the foundation of the institution and eroded the confidence of the masses on the judiciary.

"Imposing a judicial officer with shallow knowledge on the secular judicial practices limit the prospects of arriving at enduring positive precedents that will promote justice and fairness in the polity.

"Manipulations of judicial system by the inglorious cabal as demonstrated in the Imo Gubernatorial verdict signals the state of the judiciary in Nigeria.

"Following from the above, it becomes evident that the judgement on Orji Uzo Kalu is a mere mockery of the judiciary in Nigeria. It was premeditated. The loophole was crafted to extract undefined political commitment for 2023 from Kalu before letting him off the hook.

"I believe that certain bargain has been extracted, warranting the judicial drama. There could be other judgements delivered on the same premise. What happens to the judge that assigned the case knowing fully well of the consequences? Any punishment? What happens to the judge that assigned the case knowing fully well of the consequences? Any punishment? Is the presiding judge who wilfully allowed himself to be used still has moral stranding to proceed as Appeal Court Judge?

"The continued detention is delayed to ensure that he fulfils his own part of the bargain before gaining his freedom. Indeed recent judgments of the Apex Court fundamentally question the integrity of the institution as the last hope of the common man."


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