18th January, 2011
Chairman, Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Adebamigbe Omole, has implored the judiciary to ward off any perceived interference from the executive arm of government by insulating itself.
Omole disclosed this at the 7th Chief Gani Fawehinmi lecture series at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Judiciary must deal with cases that come before it according to the law and abide by the judicial oath to safeguard the integrity of the judicial institution.
“Therefore, our judges should be proactive. What the nation needs at this crucial time of our political evolution is judicial activism in the interpretation of the statutes.
“Also, judges should adopt such a construction as will promote the general legislative purpose underlying the provisions of the constitution and the electoral laws. Our judges should no longer wring their hands and say ‘our hands are tied’ where strict interpretation of statute gives rise to an absurd and unjust situation.
“Furthermore, the Nigeria Police should not be seen by the people as extension of the party in power, either at the federal or state levels but they should be seen as an institution meant to ensure peaceful environment for Nigerians to exercise their political rights,” Omole stated.
According to him, the police should carry out the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan on the arrest and prosecution of political thugs.
He expressed wish that the police would have the courage to arrest and prosecute the thugs in Ekiti, Osun, Oyo and Ogun states who maimed and killed during the 2007 elections, in the Ekiti re-run election and at the recent PDP congresses in Ogun, Oyo, Adamawa and this year’s re-run election in Delta State.
“The practice where individuals whose election are subject of litigation are allowed to assume offices during the pendency of the case should be discouraged as it has been observed that this is responsible for the filing of frivolous applications in order to bid for time,” he added.
— Olarinde Ayodele
