- Lawyers and judges are a reflection of the society they live in
Bayo Akinlade Reflects on # alleyesontheJUDICIARY And The Misconceptions of Expectations
Another new legal year is upon us as we all ceremoniously visit our worship places calling on God to use us to do justice. While some believe these prayers are essential, many are disillusioned by the very concept of expecting a selected few Nigerians within the Judiciary to fix all our nation’s problems.
I chuckle in disbelief when I hear my colleagues accept the failures of our judiciary and note that judges are a reflection of our society since Judges live amongst us, we can’t surely expect them to do any better or can we? As far as I am concerned if there was ever a lame excuse for incompetency, this was the worst of it.
The Judiciary and even the legal profession has its pride in being populated by exceptional individuals (Honourable and most learned) so why would anyone amongst our ranks ever note that we cannot expect anything better from the custodians of Justice because they are part of an unjust society?
AlleyesontheJudiciary is a wonderful buzzword but for all the wrong reasons. What justice are the people who echo these words expecting? What are they demanding from the judiciary that they have condemned and vilified?
What are they expecting from a judiciary that has been systematically compromised to its very core by the same set of people that now seeks it’s independence and impartial pronouncements? What kind of Justice do they expect from a judiciary that has been impoverished and abused by the other arms of government?
What are Nigerians really expecting from a judiciary they do not respect? Nigerians will rather take their disputes to an illiterate policeman, local chief or even a bystander than seek justice where it is most likely to be found and dispensed.
There are NO EYES ON THE JUDICIARY! We are simply blind to anything moral and good. If we had eyes on our judiciary we would seek to support that institution and ensure it was well protected and insulated from all the vices that has swallowed up the Executive and Legislative Arms of Government.
The Judiciary in this new legal year cannot do anything for Nigerians. ONLY Nigerians can rise up to insist that the Judiciary is independent. ONLY then can we begin to find our way to having the judiciary we hope and pray for.
P. S
JUDGES (at all cadres) ARE EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS who are appointed to do only what God has the power to do! They are the BEST and the WISEST of us!
Bayo Akinlade Esq.
Publicity Secretary,
Nigerian Law Society &
Convener, Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary
