Judiciary Is ‘Sacred’ Nigeria Will Collapse Without It- Ozekhome

Mike Ozekhome, has affirmed  that the judiciary still remains the best hope for the country despite the teething problems facing the sector.

He said the judiciary is still better compared to the two arms of government, the Executive and Legislature.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, made the remark on Thursday in Abuja, the nation’s capital while speaking at the 2024 Conference of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents, NAJUC.

The senior lawyer made the admonition amidst the recent bashing the nation’s judicial system has faced recently, over suggestions among not a few Nigerians that corruption is highly endemic within the system.

A lawyer and rights activist , Dele Farotimi have pointed out the alleged many rots in the nation’s judicial system in his controversial book ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’ for which he’s now being tried for defamation.

His trial has further worsened the negative impression among not a few Nigerians that corruption, indeed thrives in the nation’s justice system, highlighting for instance, that justice is cash and carry in the country.

Speaking yesterday, Ozekhome said the country faces imminent collapse without the judiciary despite the obvious challenges, saying anarchy looms without an efficient judicial system.

He however warned those aggrieved to continue seeking reprieve in the court, rather than attacking the system, urging the courts to ensure that justice is dispensed.

He said, “I still want to believe that despite all the issues the judiciary may have, it remains the best of the three arms of government. If you remove the judiciary, Nigeria will collapse like a pack of cards.

“The role of the courts is very sacred in the functioning of society and must be held with the highest esteem.”