Justice Denial: The Decay Of The Judiciary and the Death of Democracy in Nigeria.

The Judiciary has become an industry willing to sell justice to the highest bidder; the result is that countless people are denied justice.

By Fada Emmanuel Uchechukwugeme Ogbu.

Every right thinking person in Nigeria today know that the Nigerian judiciary  is plagued by corruption, injustice and decay, which are all threatening the existence of democracy in the country. In a democratic society, the people’s voice is paramount. The voice of the people is the foundation of democracy.

 However, when the judiciary system is compromised, the voice of the people is often silenced, their opinions become irrelevant and the judiciary will automatically become the hopelessness of the common man.

The peoples’ voice is paramount. Also, the outstanding advantage which democracy has over every other kind of government is the inherent press freedom which also entails essentially “the voice of the people”, but the reverse is the case in Nigeria.

The judiciary by the principles of checks and balances ought to be independent of the other two arms of the government (the executive and legislative) and of course the political parties.

The judiciary should be the voice of justice, ensuring that the rule of law is followed in the country. The judiciary system is supposed to be a strong and impartial arbitrator in disputes between the government and its citizens.

Today in Nigeria, the independence of the judiciary system has been compromised, and the rule of law has been violated. And none of those maimed during the election has been pacified. What a pity!

In a situation where one man can pay off everybody, including those in the judiciary, for one sole purpose: to silence the voice of the people, what do you think will be the outcome? Anarchy, brutality, poverty, sickness, death, name it. It has now been established that the judiciary in Nigeria is only for the rich and powerful.

The recent development in Nigerian politics of “take it by force, grab it, kill and destroy anyone on your way” is quick to remind us that money speaks louder than justice because none of those maimed during the election have been pacified.

They have eternally remained voiceless because the judiciary has become an industry that is willing to sell justice to the highest bidder, and the result is that countless people are denied justice.

It is disturbing to see how three men can decide the fate of millions of people who voted during the democratic process. In Nigeria, it is not uncommon to find that a handful of people can determine who will serve as the president, senator, or governor. This leaves the fate of millions of law-abiding citizens in the hands of a corrupt and self-serving few.

And many are yet to come to terms with the reality of the fact that the state is already captured. What a fate!

The Nigerian judiciary system has become a vehicle for corruption and a means for the rich to oppress the poor. Unfortunately, the system has been destroyed because of money and other political influences. It is no longer a place where justice and impartiality reign. Rather, it is a place where the highest bidder wins and the rights of the people get trampled upon with huge military presence, police brutality, EFCC hunting, name them. These tools are now in the hands of the rich and we are not afraid of what is coming.

Thank God for the awareness of the death and decay of justice in Nigeria. It can never be business as usual and the people’s distrust of the judiciary can now be seen in the way they take other methods to find justice. The judiciary system failed to provide what the people need, there is no sense of justice. That failure has turned to be a breeding ground for vigilantism and unrest. We will not forget how it all started.

Lastly friends, it is clear that the Nigerian judiciary’s decay is a threat to democracy. The people’s voice is a crucial part of democracy; therefore, protecting the independence of the judiciary is essential.

There’s need for a total overhaul in the recruitment process of the bench. A total independent process devoid of executive influence should be enthroned to further guarantee her essential role of arbitration and adjudication. The judiciary must be free from political and economic influence, and justice must be given to the deserving no matter their status in the society. The system must also ensure that the people’s votes do not get hijacked or manipulated in the future, ensuring that Nigeria’s democracy thrives. It is high time to restore the dignity of the judiciary system and regain the trust of the people. Only then can Nigeria hope to experience economic growth and social development.

As a matter of fact, no sensible foreign investors can invest in a country where the temple of justice is upturned and not sacred. We must stand up for our right.

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