NBA Warns Judges Against Bias, Urges Upholding Rule of Law Amid Rivers Court Confusion
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged judges to ensure their rulings align with the rule of law and avoid judgments that could tarnish the judiciary’s reputation.
In a phone interview with Sunday PUNCH, the NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), stressed that judicial decisions have far-reaching implications, especially on the country’s socio-economic stability. He called for judges to be mindful of how their rulings impact public trust in the legal system.
Recently, Nigeria has witnessed a surge in conflicting court orders, particularly in high-profile cases. These contradictions have been evident in the ongoing political struggles in Rivers State, as well as the prolonged dispute over the Kano Emirate.
One of the notable conflicting judgments occurred on September 4, 2024, when Justice I. Igwe of the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt ruled that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) must conduct local government elections using the 2023 voter register. The judge also directed the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to provide security during the election process. This ruling came in a case filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) against the RSIEC, the Rivers State Government, and Governor Nyesom Wike.
Justice Igwe cited the constitutional requirement for local government elections and referenced a recent Supreme Court ruling that mandated states without democratically elected local governments to hold elections within three months.
However, just weeks later, on September 30, 2024, another court, led by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, issued a restraining order against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), prohibiting it from releasing the voter register to the RSIEC for the elections. Justice Lifu also barred the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services from providing security for the planned elections.
Commenting on the contradictory rulings, Osigwe urged judges to refrain from issuing decisions that could undermine the judiciary’s credibility or create additional social and economic challenges for the country. He emphasized that the judiciary must remain steadfast in its duty to uphold the law without allowing external pressures or conflicting interests to influence its judgments.
