Headlines

Anger In The Judiciary Over Attacks On Judges, Lawyers

Published

10 years ago

February 22, 2016

Gale of Damning Judgments To Follow Buhari, Oyegun, Magu’s Comments
family-law We Are Not An Appendage Of The Executive- Lawyers

Remarks credited to President
Muhammadu Buhari, before the
International community to the
effect that the Nigerian judiciary is
his biggest headaches in the fight
against corruption, has not gone down well
with the bench, whose members have been
handling cases bordering on corruption President Muhammadu Buhari’s attendant moves to recruit 100 new judges, who will be incorruptible in his estimation, to handle corruption cases, did not also go down well with the bench, as such a move tantamount to passing a vote of no confidence on the present crop of judges handling such matters.
On their parts, members of the bar seems not to have taken lightly the indictment of Nigerian Lawyers for allegedly shielding criminals from justice, especially those being prosecuted for financial crimes, by the Chairman of the Economic and financial crimes Commission.
nationalTRAIL investigations reveal that judges felt generally embarrassed by Buhari’s veiled reference to the judiciary as having been compromised, which may have led to the gale of reversal of court verdicts on election matters that initially tended to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The Nigerian Bar Association NBA, had expected complementary remarks from the chairman of the EFCC, who had visited in solidarity with the fight against corruption, but were shocked when Magu looked at them in the face and told them that they were accomplices in frustrating the war against corruption, by the attitude of some of their members.
At a higher level, Judges of the Supreme Court, the apex court in the country, which is often presided over by the chief Judge of the Federation, are said to have been particularly irked by comments credited to the chairman of the APC, John Odegie Oyegun, to the effect that their verdicts on election petition appeals were not credible.
Findings reveal that, Both the President, Magu and Oyegun’s remarks were being regarded as a deliberate affront on the judiciary by the Buhari led-government, more so that the government followed up the comments by placing judges in the country under watch, with their accounts under constant surveillance for alleged corrupt tendencies.
Oyegun, was reported as calling for the probe of the Supreme Court, after it upheld the election of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, he was also quoted by a famous television station lamenting the loss of some states by his party through Supreme Court judgments.
Only last week, Magu, took the judiciary, when he accused some senior members of the bar of not only accepting tainted briefs, but also aiding crimes in some instances.
“ Society is not served, when prominent members of the bar not only take clearly tainted briefs, but even facilitate the commission of crimes by knowingly supplying technical know-how and later, helping in the dispersal of the proceeds of crime.
“ There are lawyers within the fold of the NBA who ought not to be among your noble ranks.”
Some members of the bench who spoke to our correspondent on conditions of anonymity said, while Magu and Oyegun’s remarks could be excused in the face of their seeming desperation to please their boss, the President’s comment, was scandalous having been made before an international audience, and no retraction has been made even when it became obvious that it infringed on the integrity of the nation’s judiciary.
The Chief Judge of the federation, Justice Mahmud was said to have explained the position of the judiciary in the scheme of things at a recent meeting with the President, so as to correct the erroneous impressions created, that, the judiciary is the antithesis of his government’s fight against corruption.
Further findings reveal that, Judges, at all levels are furious over their indictment, at a time they are trying to give their best in the service of the country, especially in assisting the executive arm to achieve its goals.
The judiciary is particularly piqued according to our findings, because they are being treated as an appendage of the executive, and not as an independent arm of government, with its clear cut constitutional roles, even as they are being undeservedly ridiculed by being singled out as being corrupt; knowing the executive to be more corrupt.
nationalTRAIL also that some members of both the bench and the bar, view this as not only interference, but a way of intimidating the judiciary to always do the bidding of the executive arm of the government.
Sources within the judicial circle confirmed to us that, the gale of reversals of earlier judgments which tended to initially favour President Muhammadu Buhari’s party, the APC by the Supreme Court might have been a way of expressing the judicial anger against the President, who they accuse of wanting all court verdicts to go his way and no other way.
A particular judge remarked that President Buhari should expect more damning judgments in the days ahead, unless he learns to show some modicum of respect for the legal profession and its practitioners, regarded as universally noble.
“If the president fails to realise that the judiciary is an independent arm of the same government that is equally recognised and accorded its own powers, and deserved to be respected, then he will feel the pangs of this equally important arm, mind you this is a democracy.”
The judge continued, “you can see even from the budgetary allocation for the judiciary, that this arm is not accorded the proper respect it deserves, is that the way our colleagues elsewhere in the world are treated?, where in the world does a judge still writes with his or her hand?, yet someone is insulting judges that they are corrupt, am not completely saying we are all angels, but what is our working environment like?”
Some judges told our correspondent that if the President continues with his scathing remarks against the judiciary, which is regarded as the conscience of democracy, he should not expect favourable judgments from the courts in cases where the executive has overwhelming interest.
President Muhammadu Buhari, was reported as saying that the fight against corruption is being hampered by the attitude of the judiciary, which has compelled him to contemplate recruiting 100 judges, considered as being incorruptible to try corruption cases across the country, during one of his trips abroad.
The president, had at a town hall meeting with Nigerians in Addis Ababa, on January 31, said that the ongoing fight against corruption could be more effective with the strong support of the judiciary.
He then told them that his biggest headache in the fight against the monster called corruption in the country was the judicial arm.

Headlines

2027: THE MANY WARS IN PARTIES

Published

2 months ago

June 1, 2026

Our Reporter

☆ ADC, PDP, NDC, LP Tacle APC Amidst Internal Wranglings.
☆ Party primaries trigger godfather vs godson clashes.
By: Our Special Correspondent.

Election periods always make Nigeria a political melting pot. Tensions, intrigues, violence, manipulations and grandstanding have been the order.
2027 may not be an exception, as already, the polity is heating up and political players are up in arms.
Between political parties, battle lines are being drawn.
It is no longer news that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the ADC and former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi of the NDC have secured the presidential tickets for their various political parties, ahead of the 2027 elections.
While Nigerians await the outcome of the presidential primaries for the other parties, it is apparent that the leading dramatis personae of the 2023 presidential election debacle, are set to square it out again in 2027.
But, while most, if not all the opposition political parties are emershed in multi-dimenssional crisis, the stage seems set for dirtier political schemings, in the quest to wrestle power from the ruling APC.
With the apparent collapse of the much talked about coalition, frontline candidates may again go into the election as a divided house, as the parties are further polarized by the attendant crisis arising from the just concluded primaries.
The ruling APC, also faced with similar crisis following the primaries. The primaries of all the parties seem to have sparked internal wranglings
across Edo, Delta, Lagos, Oyo, Kano, Rivers and other states. In most states, the primaries for governorship, Senate and House of Representatives seats have triggered deepening crises between governors, former governors, senators and entrenched party blocs.
While one may regard such disagrerments as normal and could be resolved before the main election, the disagreement between President Tinubu and the opposition may linger.

The President is fighting hard to ward of attacks over his failed promises which were made in 2023, as campaign issues.
Similarlly, the issue of insecurity, fuel subsidy, pol8cy summersault, and general cost of living have been brought to the front burner, in political discourse.
Tinubu told Nigerians on Friday that subsidy removal and forex reforms have revived investor confidence, lifted market cap to 250,000 points, and drawn new oil and gas investment. He also said security operations have “intensified” against bandits, separatists and insurgents.
But critics insist that Tinubu’s camp is working to cripple opposition parties reminescent of the Abacha-era dark days.
In apparent move to realign forces and reshape 2027, NDC’s Peter Obi has announced Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Obi told a gathering brfore naming Kwankwaso as his running mate, that, the Vice President office under him, will be “an active partner, not ceremonial”. The NDC held a special convention Saturday to affirm Obi as flagbearer where he promised 10,000MW electricity generation. Labour Party has also presented Dr. Chibuzo Okereke as its presidential candidate, a lowly rated personality.
At the sub-national level, political players are pulling the strings from different end. Most governors are being accused of imposing their cronies as governorship, senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates.
The national leadership of the APC has been struggling hard to adress the widespread crisis occassioned by the primaries. The APC, in Lagos amidst the internal wars, has picked Princess Damilola Sonayon-James as running mate to Lagos governorship candidate Dr. Obafemi Hamzat. Both are seen as stooges of the governor and by extenssion the President.
In Rivers, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has vowed that, the APC “Rainbow Coalition” will agree on one governorship candidate and that ADC’s Atiku won’t get 10% of Rivers votes. Though the candidate has not yet been named.
Wike also declared “Rivers has no option but to back Tinubu”.
In several states, there have been massive decampments from the APC in particular, because of unfavourable outcomes of the primaries.
All these point to a turbulent outing for the APC, even as the ruling party.
As for the opposition parties, they all have been emasculated, and may not be able to pose much threat to the ruling APC.
While the political wranglings were going on the most serious threat to the APC remains the rising concern over insecurity. The issue seem to have ignited anger across the country, with Federal Workers Forum threatening an indefinite nationwide strike over rising insecurity and unresolved wages. SERAP, has meanwhile urged the UN Secretary-General to invoke Article 99 over Nigeria’s “escalating insecurity—mass abductions, killings, displacements”.

Headlines

“Nigeria Is in a Hurry to Celebrate Victory Over Enemies of the State,” Says Tinubu as He Decorates New Service Chiefs

Published

9 months ago

October 30, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the newly appointed service chiefs to discharge their duties with utmost dedication and renewed commitment, declaring that “Nigeria is in a hurry to celebrate victory over enemies of the state.”

The President made this statement on Thursday during the decoration ceremony of the new service chiefs with their ranks at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.

The ceremony was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and the spouses of the newly promoted officers, who joined the President in performing the decorations.

In his address, Tinubu underscored the central role of security in fostering national development and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians.

“Security is an essential element without which everything else becomes meaningless,” the President stated. “There can be no sustainable development if this fundamental need is not met. Our people and our nation must remain secure to enjoy the dividends of governance.”

The elevation and decoration of the new military chiefs followed their confirmation by the National Assembly on Wednesday, after a closed-door screening session with lawmakers.

It will be recalled that, in a recent overhaul of the nation’s military hierarchy, President Tinubu appointed:

Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff,
Major General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff,
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff,
Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and
Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye retained as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

The new appointments mark a strategic restructuring of Nigeria’s security leadership aimed at strengthening the fight against insurgency, banditry, and other threats to national stability.

Headlines

FG Dismisses Coup Rumour, Reaffirms Confidence in Nigerian Military

Published

9 months ago

October 20, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Federal Government has dismissed widespread rumours of an alleged military coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, declaring its full confidence in the loyalty and professionalism of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known in an interview with The Punch on Sunday, insisting that the administration has “no reason whatsoever” to doubt the assurances given by the Defence Headquarters, which had earlier denied reports linking the detention of 16 military officers to a coup attempt.

“The Federal Government has no reason to doubt the military on what it has said,” Idris stated.
“We believe the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to protecting the nation’s territorial integrity and strengthening the fight against insecurity. The government commends their sacrifice and will continue to support them in safeguarding the country.”

The minister’s remarks came a day after the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, firmly debunked a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that the detention of 16 officers was connected to a failed coup plot and the cancellation of the 65th Independence Day parade.

Gusau described the publication as “false, mischievous, and deliberately aimed at creating unnecessary tension and public distrust.”

He clarified that the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade was a purely administrative decision — taken to allow President Tinubu attend a key bilateral meeting abroad and to enable military units sustain ongoing counterinsurgency operations nationwide.

On the issue of the detained officers, Gusau said their case was “an internal disciplinary process” and not related to any political matter.

“The investigation involving the 16 officers is routine, aimed at upholding discipline and professionalism within the ranks,” he explained. “An investigative panel has been constituted, and its findings will be made public in due course.”

Reaffirming the military’s constitutional role and unwavering commitment to civilian rule, Gusau stressed emphatically: