The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law has cautioned politicians to cease burdening the judiciary with post-election matters.
The charge was contained in a 27 page communiqué issued at the end of the NBA-SPIDEL 2023 annual general conference in Lagos with the theme, “Post-election Nigeria: Judiciary in the eye of the storm.’’
The communiqué signed by NBA-SPIDEL chairman, Dr Monday Ubani and Chairman Conference Planning Committee, Okey Ohagba, condemned the attitude of prioritising election matters over every other matter in Nigerian courts to the detriment of ordinary Nigerians whose freedom might be at stake in a criminal matter or those suffering irreparable loss in civil matters.
NBA-SPIDEL urged the judiciary to showcase itself as thoroughly independent and courageous in dispensing electoral justice without fear or favour especially now that Nigerians were looking up to the courts for the correction of whatever might have gone wrong in the 2023 general elections.
The section further recommended that searchlight should be beamed on the activities of support staff of judicial officers, noting that some of them painted the judiciary in bad light.
The communiqué noted, “Acknowledged some of the limitations already identified in the legal framework guiding elections in Nigeria, however, recommended that beyond addressing the legislative issues, more work should be done around the attitude of the implementers of the laws, politicians and the general public. We should respect and not treat our laws with disdain and impunity. Agreed that to move our democracy and its processes forward, Nigeria must revisit the Uwais report and ensure implementation of the recommendations made for elections. Lamented the incessant allegations of infractions in our justice system and stated that when justice is sold or available to be sold injustice prevails.
“Called for the un-bundling of the Independent National Electoral Commission given the many allegations that challenge its independence and non-partisanship. Revisit the status of INEC and the process of its participation in the electoral tribunals in Nigeria. Condemned the attitude of lawyers who are contributing more to the subversion of the electoral process and recommended accountability and sanctions of lawyers who sabotage the electoral process.
“Condemned the attitude of prioritising election matters over every other matter in Nigerian courts to the detriment of ordinary Nigerians whose freedom may be at stake in a criminal matter or those that may suffer irreparable loss in civil matters. Lamented the negative role poorly organised political parties’ primaries play in igniting Nigerian electoral woes and recommended better managed and monitored party primaries.’’
