Former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to restore integrity to the judiciary, expressing concern that some politicians have compromised the judicial system.
In a statement titled “The Time to End Judicial Rascality is Now”, George voiced optimism that under Justice Kekere-Ekun, the judiciary could reclaim its respected status, as it held between the 1950s and 1980s. He warned, however, that recent controversial judgments by certain judicial officers are undermining Nigeria’s democracy and embarrassing patriotic citizens.
Congratulating the CJN on her recent confirmation and swearing-in, George said: “I strongly believe the judiciary will benefit from your wealth of knowledge. With you at the helm, I am hopeful the judiciary will reclaim the prominence it once had from the 1950s to the 1980s.” He emphasized the importance of restoring the judiciary’s impartiality and integrity.
George raised alarms over what he termed “judicial rascality,” pointing to conflicting rulings from courts of coordinate jurisdiction and growing public distrust in court decisions. He warned that the current trajectory could lead to “judicial anarchy,” where the rule of law is undermined by conflicting and questionable court judgments.
“Judicial decisions today are becoming embarrassing. We have instances where courts, miles away from political conflicts, issue confusing rulings. This creates judicial chaos, leaving Nigerians bewildered,” George explained. He criticized the increasing trend of lower courts issuing conflicting orders, which he believes is damaging the credibility of the judiciary.
George called on the CJN to convene a meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to address these inconsistencies and take corrective measures. He stressed the need to restore public confidence in the judiciary, recalling the respected reputations of past Chief Justices like Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, Justice Teslim Elias, and Justice Kayode Eso, who upheld the judiciary’s independence against external pressures.
Lamenting the state of the judiciary since 1999, George accused some judges of serving the interests of powerful politicians rather than justice. He also criticized the reliance on “technicalities” in judgments, particularly in electoral cases, where judges overturn the decisions made by millions of voters, often undermining the will of the people.