<p>Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
has sent an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari urging him to use his
good offices and leadership position to “urgently publish and fully implement
the recommendations of the report on financial autonomy of state legislature
and judiciary submitted to you in June 2019.”</p>



<p>SERAP said: “In the context of a growing attack on the
country’s judiciary by the authorities and politicians, the full implementation
of the report will contribute to improving judicial independence, and respect
for constitutional principles of separation of powers and systems of checks and
balances designed to prevent political interference and ensure respect for the
rule of law.”</p>



<p>In the letter dated 27 September 2019, and signed by
SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Equal
treatment before the law is a pillar of democratic societies. But when judicial
financial autonomy and by extension, independence and sanctity is undermined,
the scales of justice are tipped, and ordinary Nigerians suffer. In fact, when
judicial autonomy and independence is under siege, everyone loses, as the voice
of the innocent goes unheard, while the guilty continue to act with impunity.”</p>



<p>The letter read in part: “The failure to publish the full
recommendations of the report and to begin to implement them has continued to
undermine the country’s judicial systems, and deny citizens’ access to justice
and basic human right to a fair and impartial justice system.”</p>



<p>“Ensuring the financial autonomy and independence of the
courts would improve the ability of our judicial systems to deliver justice
effectively and efficiently. It would also allow the court to jealously guard
the rights of innocent men and women, and ensure that the guilty receive a fair
and impartial hearing, as well as remove the dangerous possibility of summary
justice.”</p>



<p>“We urge you to ensure full respect for the rule of law
and due process in words and actions.”  ;</p>



<p>“A financially autonomous judiciary is crucial for the
effectiveness and success of your anti-corruption agenda, and important for the
realization of citizens’ human rights. Unless the report is fully implemented,
trust in the court’s impartiality and independence will continue to be eroded,
and the core judicial functions, access to justice, and the broader
accountability function of the judiciary, will continue to be undermined.”</p>



<p>“A weak judiciary would mean that impunity for corrupt
officials will remain, as the ability of your government and anti-corruption
agencies to prosecute grand corruption, as well as public trust and confidence
in institutions of government and public officials, will continue to be
undermined.”</p>



<p>“SERAP is extremely concerned about the growing attack on
the independence of the judiciary and the sanctity of our justice system,
particularly the repeated failures by your government, state governments and
politicians to respect and comply with court decisions and orders.” ;</p>



<p>“SERAP notes that you received in June 2019 the Report of
the Abubakar Malami-led Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial
Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary. The committee, inaugurated by you
on March 22, 2019 was tasked to fashion out strategies and modalities for
implementation of the financial autonomy of the state legislature and
judiciary, in compliance with Section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as
amended).”</p>



<p>“When you received the report, you stated that, ‘I went
through a terrible time getting here for the three times I contested elections.
That is why I want to stabilise the system so that others will not pass through
the same experience.’”</p>



<p>“This worrying situation threatens to undermine the
judiciary’s fragile independence, and the sacred constitutional principles of
separation of powers and systems of checks and balances.” ;</p>



<p>“Continuing refusal to respect and obey court decisions
and orders if not urgently stopped will lead to increased corruption and
impunity. Disobedience of court orders is an implicit interference in the
judicial system, and shows a flagrant disregard for Nigeria’s Constitution of
1999 (as amended) and international obligations. Persistent disobedience of
court orders and decisions threatens any gains in the fight against corruption
that your government may have recorded.” ;</p>



<p>“SERAP is concerned about the growing list of court
orders and decisions that have been flagrantly disobeyed by your government,
the most recent being the order by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, Federal High Court,
Abuja granting bail to the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore,
and the reported attempts by your government to drag Justice Taiwo before
National Judicial Council (NJC) on account of his decision to grant bail to Mr
Sowore.”</p>



<p>“Other high-profile
judgments your government is refusing to obey include at least three judgments
obtained by SERAP. The first is the judgment by Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari
ordering the government to tell Nigerians about the stolen asset it allegedly
recovered, with details of the amounts recovered. The second judgment, by
Justice Mohammed Idris, ordered the government to publish details on the
spending of stolen funds recovered by successive governments since the return
of democracy in 1999.” ;</p>



<p>“The third
judgment, Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, a Professor of Law, ordered the
government to publish details of payments to all defaulting and allegedly
corrupt electricity contractors and companies by the governments of former
President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former
President Goodluck Jonathan, and your government.”</p>



<p> ;“Another
court order that is yet to be complied with is the order for the release of
Islamic Movement of Nigeria leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife,
Zeenah, from unlawful detention, obtained by human rights lawyer and Senior
Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana.”</p>

What Nigerians Should Expect In 2027 OpenLife Nigeria reports that the Presiding Bishop of the…
What You Should Do To Revive PDP OpenLife Nigeria reports that former President…
Supreme Court Faults President Tinubu OpenLife Nigeria reports that the Supreme Court has faulted President…
Rivers State Boils Again OpenLife Nigeria reports that just after 85 days when governor Siminalayi…
After Paying Trillions In Naira To Secure Pipelines In Niger Delta OpenLife Nigeria reports that…
How Bamise Samson Ajetunmobi OpenLife Nigeria reports that the trial of Ponzi scheme operator, Bamise…
This website uses cookies.