The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has been called upon to rescue the judiciary concerning the sacking of Rivers State Assembly members who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Coalition of Lawyers for Injustice, led by Mr Moses Okino, also called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and all well-meaning stakeholders to rise against the alleged affront on the legal system and defend the integrity of the judiciary in the state.
The lawyers contended that they would not stand idly by while the tenets of democracy are imperilled allegedly by the antics of the ruling APC
“We demand respect for the judiciary and the rule of law, and we will take all necessary steps to ensure that this demand is met,” the lawyers noted while reacting to the recent developments in Rivers State, where a High Court ruling overturned the decision of another court, sacking PDP lawmakers for decamping to APC.
They maintained that the brazen affront to the judiciary’s integrity and the rule of law is unacceptable and warrants collective condemnation by well-meaning Nigerians.
Justifying the call on the CJN to intervene, they argued: “It is an elementary legal principle that a lower court cannot review or overturn the decision of another lower court or a court of concurrent jurisdiction. This fundamental tenet of our legal system is being recklessly disregarded by the APC in Rivers State, who seem hell-bent on ridiculing the judiciary and undermining our democracy.
“We are appalled by the APC’s blatant disregard for the judicial process and their resort to self-help, which can only be described as a wicked assault on the very fabric of our legal system. This egregious behaviour will not only erode public trust in the judiciary but also project Nigeria as a laughingstock before the international community.
“We are particularly concerned about the allegations of bribery and lack of jurisdiction levelled against the judge, which are serious issues that require thorough investigation.”
Urging the APC and the former Rivers State Assembly members to desist from the destructive path and respect the sanctity of the judiciary, they insisted that the courts must be allowed to function without intimidation or manipulation and that the rule of law must be upheld at all costs.
