Judiciary as a whole not corrupt, says senior lawyers

Some senior lawyers have expressed dismay over the allegations of corruption against the Nigerian judiciary due to recent controversial court verdicts.

The Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who made their views known are Mike Ahamba, Professor Awa Kalu, Kunle Adegoke and Dr Olukayode Ajulo.

The senior lawyers warned that such commentaries could affect the image of the country’s judiciary and lead to anarchy and the survival of Nigeria.

According to them, while it is not in doubt that few judges across levels of courts lately gave certain controversial judgments in some political cases, demonizing the entire judiciary because of the few errors was unfair to the majority of upright judges faithfully discharging their duties.

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The lawyers had separately said while it is understandable that politicians would eulogize the judiciary each time its verdicts were in their favour and would not stop at anything to set the institution ablaze when its judgments are against them, it is disturbing that lawyers who understand procedure would join the fray and most times sponsor the denigration war against the judiciary.

Adegoke said, “Yes, we have few elements in the judiciary that are bad. We cannot shy away from that. It is, however, easier to notice the negative side of any person or any system.”

Also making his views, Ahamba said: “Most of the discussions on the pages of newspapers are fact-free and law-free.

“I know that some funny things have happened. But I still maintain that most of those who are discussing the judiciary don’t even know what the law is.”