Much is being said today about the justice system in Nigeria which of course, is not inseparable from the larger society where in the recent times, we are witnessing all manner of vices and hopelessness. The society is seen by the ordinary Nigerian from the prisms that anything goes; not even the judicial system where ordinarily the rights of the citizens should be protected, is exempted from the feeling of disillusionment that pervades the landscape.
In the midst of this uncertainty as to where the country is heading, the temple of justice got a dose of attention recently during the valedictory speech of the outgone retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola who himself complained about unnecessary, and too many cases being brought before the Apex Court that ought to have terminated at the level of the Appeal Courts. This and other issues raised by the learned judge elicited reactions from a cross section of the society, especially those who felt that their rights as citizens have been trampled upon, without recourse to what the constitution stipulates.
For example, the National Correctional Service Statistics figure, obtained through the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL), states that the total capacity of nationwide correctional centres which is supposed to be fifty thousand in total, as at 19th August, 2024, rose to eighty-four thousand, four hundred and sixty-nine inmates. Out of the number, twenty-six thousand, eight hundred and ninety-nine (26,899), representing 32 percent are convicted inmates, already serving their jail terms, while a total number of fifty-seven thousand, five hundred and seventy (57,570), representing 68 percent are awaiting trials across Nigeria.
Jail breaks in the recent times have become part of our history. In fact, there is no zone in the country in the last three years that did not report attacks on the correctional facilities. Till date, the government is still searching for some of the inmates that reportedely ran away from the prisons, criminals and non-criminals alike. The intriguing thing however is that each time it happens, like the Abuja jail break where some dreaded Boko Haram members escaped, during the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the authority then complained of prison congestion and poor infrastructure, raising the question, should suspects be detained for years before their fate is determined by the law courts? Or Why did government approve for terrorists to be kept in poor facilities, rather than in maximum prisons?
The alarm raised by the retired Justice Kayode Ariwoola (SAN), telling Nigerians that certain cases should not be taken from Appeal Courts to the Supreme Court, may be the right thing to do; but the question here is, what measures did he take to address the situation, only for him to turn around asking his successor, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to right the wrong? While we crave for good and impartial Judicial system in Nigeria, it is important to state here that the rot, especially the idea of the highest bidder takes it all, synonymous with the Judiciary, should be tackled headlong, and justice rightly seen to be served.
It is one thing to bemoan the rot in a system like ours, and another to have the courage and ability to correct the misdeed done to the individual and the society at large. The maxim that the law is blind should be respected rather than look at one’s standing in the society to determine cases. We challenge the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kekere-Ekun to overhaul the judicial sector, and ensure the mistakes of the past are not repeated. We want to see a reformed and reinvigorated judiciary where the hope of every Nigerian in law is not only guaranteed, but also protected no matter where one comes from.
The sanctity of the courts which is the last hope of the common man should be restored and not just by mere rhetoric, going by how the society perceives the temple of justice. The people’s hope must be rekindled, and this can only be achieved through a reformed judiciary that is seen to be working for everybody, and where judgement is not sold to, or purchased by the highest bidder.
