In a recent statement via his official X account, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has called on the judiciary to reform and regain the trust of Nigerians.
He expressed deep concern that many Nigerians have lost confidence in the justice system, which was once seen as the last hope for the oppressed.
“Some of these judges have become willing and available instruments to be used by evil-minded men and women to unjustly keep Nigerians in prison custody. As we speak, there are no immediate remedies for these victims of judicial persecution. Judges are not to be sued in the performance of their judicial functions. Judicial officers can not be sued for judicial acts.
And so Nigerians are at the mercy of the wickedness of these sets of judges. As legal practitioners, we see many unusual and at times very unfortunate abnormal displays of reckless judicial powers that are completely compromised and uncalled for,” he wrote.
In his post, Okutepa said that in the past, Nigerians could rely on the courts for fairness and protection of their rights.
However, he noted that the situation has changed drastically.
According to him, some judges now act as instruments of oppression rather than justice, often siding with powerful individuals and agencies.
He lamented that the judiciary has become compromised, with certain judges showing open bias in their rulings.
He added that some even delay important judgments, especially in cases involving the government or its officials, without valid reasons.
Okutepa described this trend as a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.
The senior lawyer argued that the constitution gives judges the duty to be fair and impartial, but some have abandoned these principles.
He said their behavior often gives the impression that they are working with prosecutors or acting as if they were part of the executive arm of government.
Okutepa accused some judges of using their positions to protect the interests of those in power.
He pointed out that judicial officers should not be above scrutiny and that there must be monitoring mechanisms to check their conduct.
He urged the leadership of the judiciary and the legal profession to take urgent steps to restore integrity in the system.
He said the judiciary must not be seen as a tool for persecution or oppression.
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