Renowned Niger Delta-born human rights and peace advocate Comrade Mulade Sheriff has made an urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to safeguard the independence and integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary.
He emphasized the importance of the judiciary as a pillar of democracy and the last hope of the common man.
While appealing to the president to restore confidence in the Judiciary, he said “it has become necessary to formally appeal to you to salvage our judiciary, which is the core of society and democracy. A fair and independent judiciary ensures fairness, equity, and justice for all Nigerians.
“Without it, our democratic system is at risk of crumbling under the weight of political interests,” Comrade Sheriff declared”, he said.
Mulade said Nigerians were deeply worried about some recent judgments that created confusion, chaos, and threatened to erode the reverence and trust in our justice system.
Nigeria’s judiciary has been the beacon of hope, not just for Nigerians, but for the African continent. However, political interference and vested interests are putting our judicial integrity under severe pressure.
Comrade Sheriff expressed concerns about political interests that continue to undermine the independence of the courts. “We are witnessing a worrying trend where the judiciary is being politicized, and certain judgments are driven by political interests rather than the rule of law.”
Mulade further highlighted a troubling pattern in which judges, particularly in the Federal and State High Courts, dismiss public-interest cases on technical grounds. “It is alarming how often cases of national importance are dismissed based on technicalities, preventing the judiciary from addressing the real merits of the case. This practice frustrates the hopes of ordinary Nigerians seeking justice.”
“It is imperative to conclude by calling on President Tinubu to take immediate steps to ensure the full independence of the judiciary and to restore public trust in the legal system”. He urged that political influence over court decisions be eradicated and that the judiciary should remain a neutral arbiter of justice, as intended in a democratic presidential system.
