Connect with us
“In Justice, integrity is a necessity……”
President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, 2016
The Nigerian judiciary revolves at periodic stages of the general polity. In this process, senior officers of the bar and bench who would ordinarily be clogs in the wheel of the effective administration of the criminal justice system are excused.
Recently, the federal government launched what was called an onslaught on the Judiciary using the DSS; in the process of which shocking revelations about alleged grand corruption emerged. Certainly, the executive was wrong to break service protocols by not involving the National Judicial Council in that drive but that act of wrong doing doesn’t suggest that the Nigerian Judiciary still doesn’t house even senior judges with questionable commitment to the rule of law and the administration of justice.
President Muhammadu Buhari aptly captured the strength of these negative forces when he confessed in 2016 during an open conference that “In justice, integrity is a necessity. Hence judicial officers and all other members of this sector must always demonstrate manifest integrity.”
Regrettably, while the purge is on, a few repugnant characters still dot the legal landscape of Nigeria. Justice Ndahi Ibrahim Auta of the Federal High Court, Abuja, readily comes to mind.
In the last decade, this senior legal officer has been implicated in one scandal or another. From accepting heavy cash inducements from parties to cases pending before him, to out-rightly taking sides in matters involving political parties. From making irrational pronouncements to arbitrary reassignment of cases. Justice Ibrahim Auta is alleged to have received bribe severally in order to assign cases to corrupt judges who also give him returns. One of such matter is EFCC’s case against a former Governor of one of the South-Eastern states.
Most recently, Justice Auta who ordinarily should be on the watch list of both the DSS and EFCC on account of some of the most unwholesome judicial practices appears to have struck a unique kind of plea bargaining. It is therefore not surprising that rather than face sanctions for acts capable of destabilizing Nigeria, Justice Auta appears to be the main contact person of these agencies in the judiciary where He is now popular by reverse for his capacity to within very short notice mobilize and give the most ridiculous judicial fiats, pronouncements and even judgements or even blackmail his colleagues into giving dubious rulings in favour of his newly found associates, the DSS and EFCC .
It is obvious to most Nigerians that Justice Auta has a grave challenge divorcing his emotions from cases pending before Him. To be exact, Justice Ndahi Auta is an unscrupulous legal officer. Perhaps, it is on this account that a past president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Joseph Daudu agrees that there is a severe crises of confidence in the Judiciary. He wonders if the courts are meeting the expectation of Nigerians and agrees in the negative. He concludes that the corrupt elements in the Nigerian court system and the bar have given the entire legal system an almost irredeemable bad name.
Salvaging the image of the Nigerian judiciary isn’t such a herculean task. It simply requires a more precise concentration of efforts on specific officials of the bar and bench who by themselves constitute 90% of 90% of the rot in the judiciary.
The judiciary is an extremely important arm of government whose independence is paramount. However, Nigeria is faced with an unfortunate situation as whispers within the judicial circle indicates that Justice Auta has become the ring leader of a newly incorporated cabal of corrupt judges doing the bidding of security agencies whose primary duty is to influence the outcome of his colleagues’ ruling in favour of other government agencies/parastatals through blackmail and intimidation. Justice Ndahi Ibrahim Auta is definitely in this class of legal officials who must be excused from the system so confidence may return.
Mohammed Umar writes from Abuja

Post Views: 257
Related Topics:
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

BIG STORY

NDLEA Arrests Famous 61-Yr-Old Lagos Fabric Merchant Alhaja Ajoke Elediye For Drug Trafficking

Published

13 mins ago

on

January 5, 2025

By

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) began the new year by arresting a wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, on Wednesday, 1st January 2025, in her mansion at the Okota area of Lagos.

This followed the interception of a truckload of illicit drugs from her staff on the same day.

A statement released by the anti-drug agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, reveals that the suspect, known in the drug underworld as “Iya Ruka” and as Alhaja Ajoke in social circles, had her true identity concealed for years.

She had remained on the NDLEA’s wanted list for leading one of the drug cartels operating from the Mushin area of Lagos.

“The lid was, however, blown off her invincibility on Wednesday, 1st January 2025, when NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis, driven by one of her staff, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.

Subsequently, the operatives stormed her hideout at 33 Adebayo Oyewole Street, off Ago Palace Way, Okota, where they arrested her.”

Babafemi further stated that, on the surface, Alhaja Ajoke is a businesswoman who imports fabrics and shoes from China, but beneath that lies a vast illicit drug trade.

She is also recognized as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.

Post Views: 33
Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Lagos Ministry Demolishes Illegal Gatehouse After Attack On Workers [PHOTOS]

Published

2 days ago

on

January 3, 2025

By

The Lagos Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has commenced the demolition of an illegal gatehouse erected by the management of an estate on January 3, 2025.

The action follows repeated warnings from the ministry, which had earlier alerted the estate about the unlawful construction.

Sources revealed that the estate proceeded to build a soakaway system on the road immediately outside the entrance gate, despite several official warnings from the ministry.

This prompted the ministry’s task force to intervene on January 2, 2025, to dismantle the septic tank that was being constructed.

However, during the operation, workers from the ministry were reportedly attacked and locked up by the estate’s management.

In response to the harassment of its workers, the Lagos Ministry of Environment and Water Resources escalated its actions, directing the demolition of the illegal gatehouse on January 3, 2025.

The demolition is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to ensure that constructions adhere to legal and environmental standards.

Details later…

Post Views: 148
Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Inside Jigawa: One Dead, Groom Hospitalised As Bride Allegedly Poisons Wedding Guests

Published

2 days ago

on

January 3, 2025

By

A wedding in Jigawa State has turned tragic after a bride allegedly poisoned food served at the reception.

The incident reportedly left the groom critically ill and one of the wedding guests dead.

The incident occurred in the Jahun Local Government Area of the state.

Eyewitnesses suggested that the bride’s actions may have been driven by a personal vendetta.

Speaking on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Shi’isu Adam, confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation was underway.

“We received a report that the bride had tainted the food served at the wedding reception, leaving the groom critically ill.

“Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged food poisoning incident that occurred during a wedding ceremony in the state,” Adam said.

He revealed that the two suspects are the bride and another female, adding that they are in custody and being interrogated by the Criminal Investigation Department of the command.

The police spokesperson added, “We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.”

According to the police spokesman, all the wedding attendants who consumed the poisoned food have been discharged from the hospital, except for the one person who was confirmed dead.

“The command is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and we will provide more details as soon as possible.

“For now, we can confirm that the incident occurred, and we are working tirelessly to unravel the facts. We urge the public to remain calm and assured that justice will be served,” he concluded.

The identities of the deceased, the groom, and other victims have not been disclosed by the authorities.

Post Views: 117
Continue Reading

Most Popular