AfriPulse
Na serious warning wey dey come from Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, Afam Osigwe, SAN. Him talk say court for Nigeria suppose stop to dey use Latin phrase like ‘status quo ante bellum’ for their orders. Him yarn am for Channels TV Politics Today programme on Friday. Osigwe complain say dis kain phrase dey cause confusion for our body polity, especially for political cases wey dey sensitive.
“Our court no suppose make orders with Latin maxims again,” Osigwe talk. “Make dem make clear orders wey everybody go understand. Dis status quo ante bellum don lose meaning for Nigeria. E dey create wahala.” Him explain say when court no dey clear, different people go dey interpret am anyhow. Some go dey rejoice say order favour dem, while others go dey vex. Na so confusion dey start.
Dis matter don come up because of wahala wey dey happen for African Democratic Congress (ADC) party. Court of Appeal don order say make dem maintain status quo ante bellum for ADC leadership crisis. But Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) interpret am one way, dem delist David Mark faction from their portal. David Mark people reject am, dem say na dem be last legitimate leadership. Wahala don escalate, different factions don protest for INEC headquarters for Abuja. Even Nafiu Bala Gombe don show face, claim say na him be authentic national chairman.
As 2027 election dey near, NBA dey see plenty cases wey dey drag court enter inside party wahala. Osigwe talk say dis trend dey dangerous for our democracy. Section 83 of Electoral Act 2026 clear say no court for Nigeria suppose entertain any matter wey concern internal affairs of political party. But lawyers dey file cases, court dey grant injunctions. “Democracy no go thrive if lawyers and court dey do things wey dey violate our laws,” Osigwe warn.
NBA president talk say dem dey monitor INEC well well. Him remind INEC chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, say as Professor of Law, him suppose know wetin dey at stake. “INEC must remain neutral, dem no suppose look like dem dey do political engineering,” Osigwe yarn. Him talk say NBA go dey watch INEC conduct, make sure dem no weaken political pluralism.
For lawyers wey dey misbehave, Osigwe give strong warning. Him talk say lawyers na Ministers in the Temple of Justice, dem no be political agents. If any lawyer file case wey dey draw court enter party wahala, na abuse of court process. NBA go penalise such lawyers, dem go present petition before Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC). “We go pursue am decisively,” Osigwe talk.
Court sef no go escape. Osigwe call on National Judicial Council (NJC) to make regulations wey go sanction any judge wey knowingly assume jurisdiction for matters wey law don bar. “NBA no go shy away from drawing NJC attention to any judicial officer wey dey act against judicial oath,” him talk. Him warn say if dis trend continue, democracy for Nigeria go dey at risk.
Osigwe still talk another matter wey dey worry am. Him criticize executive arm of government for dey build courtrooms and buy cars for judges. “E dey wrong,” him talk. “E dey portray judges as beneficiaries of political patronage. E dey weaken public trust for judiciary.” Him talk say judicial needs suppose dey handled through proper budget, no be make governor dey parade judges for public. “E dey demean judges. E dey demean judiciary,” Osigwe yarn.
On judicial independence, Osigwe talk say constitutionally judiciary dey independent, but for reality, perception dey different. Him talk say sometimes Chief Judge dey go Government House to beg for release of statutory allocations. “To dat extent, judiciary no dey fully independent,” him talk. Him warn say if legal and judicial process dey put to wrong use, dem fit truncate democracy.
NBA statement wey dem issue on Friday dey clear. Dem talk say dem dey closely monitor political and legal developments as 2027 General Elections dey approach. Dem talk say recent interpretations of Electoral Act 2026 dey raise serious constitutional concerns. Dem particularly deprecate disturbing involvement by lawyers and courts for internal affairs of political parties.
Osigwe talk say provisions of Electoral Act dey designed to curb abuse of court processes and discourage forum shopping for political disputes. Him remind lawyers say dem no be political agents seeking judicial endorsement of partisan objectives. Him talk say NBA go use lawful mechanisms, including litigation and disciplinary action, to protect integrity of Nigeria democracy.
Dis matter don become serious talk for town. As politicians dey prepare for 2027, eyes dey on court and lawyers. NBA warning don come at right time. Whether dem go hear am, na another story. But one thing clear: if court and lawyers no change style, our democracy go suffer.
Source: NNN.ng | Read the Full Story…
