Anonymous
We are all so good at Judge-bashing as if we are all saints. How many here have not at one time or the other contributed to the rot that we are gleefully complaining about endlessly? Talk is cheap, especially when at the expense of others. The Judiciary is not smelling of roses just like every other segment of our society, admitted. We are all guilty, but because scapegoating is convenient, we sit in the comfort of our various homes and point accusing fingers at people who can’t answer back.
This is not by any means a defence of judicial officers. It is to make the point that the hypocrisy is even more nauseating than the crime alleged. Judges are lame ducks, so they are easy scapegoats for you. Have you checked yourself in the mirror? It is easy to forget the sacrifices that our judges make daily and the agonies they go through, many under terrible conditions in the remotest parts of this nation, to keep the ship of the country afloat. By all means, criticize them when necessary. But, can you pls first search yourself and honestly vouch that you have not, one time or the other in your over 40 years career, contributed knowingly or otherwise, to what you accuse others of?
How many of you have had golden opportunities to come to the bench and make a difference but refused because you preferred an easier life? Truly, the judiciary, as other sectors of our existence as a nation, needs rebirth. No question. And judges are the first to admit so. But what are you yourself doing to contribute to that rebirth apart from just enjoying the sadistic fervor of bashing judges on this platform?
Some of you are politicians, and you know in your hearts the sins you have committed to judicial rot. You think God is happy with you for your secret sins and open display of Puritanism? Some of you in business know what you have done in your organizations in your desperate moments to compromise the judiciary. Prove me wrong, Oga. Your conscience is judging you, right?
How many times have you sought one favor or the other from a judge friend? You think that is not part of it, abi? Ok. Your conscience will judge you, not me. How Many of you who have invited your judge friends to your children’s weddings or your concubine’s child naming have been careful to host your judge guests in an inner room instead of serving them food and wine in the open? Will you pls first remove the log in your own eyes pls?
Can we do with this annoying hypocrisy and admit our faults and join hands while we still can, to do what is right, howsoever small in our small corners to make the system better? Those of you who are professors, what are you doing in secret with our daughters? You think you are ok, Abi? Blessed indeed are those whose sins are covered
Oga head of chambers, can your juniors vouch for your integrity?
Let every man be a liar, and God alone true!
Response by one who would not want to be named.
Milord, bless you. But I hope this is not a direct response to my earlier post on the lowering of the standard of judicial officers specifically and generally. Milord has spoken well for both sides, though with a tilt to make those bold enough to say all is not well guilty.
Trust me, we check the mirrors regularly! All is not well with the bar largely and the bench to some extent. Outspoken judges and lawyers who sometimes act as defenders and watchdogs must endure the criticism that their self-appointed mission entails. We owe that to posterity and our conscience. Must we keep quiet? I say No! As a lawyer and watchdog, I can speak with humility and a bit of authority.
I surmise that there is an acknowledgement of the lowering of standards by most observers. I speak because I’ve had close family members as judges, even as heads of court. Spouse was in the business of judging others, too. Some retired or died. I even had the privilege of being in JSC at the state level. With that as the background, I must humbly agree with Milord that, yes, while we must first remove the spec in our own eyes as we check the mirrors, we can’t close our eyes to the logs we see daily in the eyes of those society holds to a higher bar.
They shoulder a more onerous burden because of their powers of life and death. They are supposed to be better than us. They are next to God. They can and indeed should earn our utmost respect, and they often do. To whom much is given in terms of power and authority, much is expected. Lawyers are less regulated than our judex. The bulk of the acts of omission and commission committed by lawyers are made permissible by what Milord referred to in his post.
Why do we allow them to get away with blue murder? Where is the courage to sanction or render disapproval in our decisions? I hate to talk of myself, but I can modestly make bold to say I have not influenced anyone, be it classmates, friends, or family levels to do wrong. I will not even bring it up. When it became tedious to realise my financial dream in the profession without doing “man no man,” I activated my innate business talents to thrive financially. Even then, I remain committed to the bar in ways many could not.
Where does all this lead us? Reform, reform, reform!! We either reform or die! My uncle is close to 90 now. After more than 25 years on the bench and a lifetime of service as state counsel, DPP, etc, he had to retire to his father’s house. When it was his turn to be a CJ, the military imported someone from another state to take over, even though the constitution says a judge from the State following seniority in that state ought to be in line! There’re many internal and external defects that brouggt the justice sector to where we are now. There are outstanding judex who suffered daily under excruciating conditions. I should know.
My uncle lives in the house left for him by his late father, completely blind. We continue to help. Yes, things are not right in many respects, but it’s not all who want change and seek a return to the glorious days who have specs in their eyes. We talk because we want a better society where the judiciary is truly the last hope of citizens of this country that we all love. There is sordid stuff that I have witnessed in my 70 years on earth pertaining to the rot in the system.
If those of us who are part of the justice system can’t and won’t talk, and our judex can’t talk, who then will talk? That is my worry. By all means, we commend, applaud, and continue to support our friends on the bench without fear or favour. We don’t just talk. We act, too, to the glory of God and the betterment of this profession we love. We will continue to ask that the logs be reduced to a manageable level whenever we observe any. The glory of the administration of justice that compares to best in the world is what we all deserve, for the good of our beautiful homeland.
