Connect with us

News

Nigerians Have Lost Confidence in Judiciary, Says Muiz Banire

Published

on

By Eric Elezuo

A former Commissioner for Special Duties,  Transport, and Environment at various periods in Lagos State, Dr. Muiz Banire, has come hard on the nation’s judiciary, saying that the supposed last hope of the common man has turned to lost hope of the common man in Nigeria.

Dr. Banire his remarks while speaking on Sunday during his weekly leadership discourse on the micro-blogging platform, X (formerly Twitter).

The former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), ho himself is a lawyer, noted that judiciary pronouncements nowadays, are not only sounding amazing, but also amusing, stressing that the third arm of government are no longer on the side of the justice, using recent feelers from the election tribunal judgments as case study.

Banire, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), observed that “Election petition cases are not only polluting our jurisprudence but contaminating our judicial officers,” and also frowned at the fact that the same “election petition cases have succeeded in further deepening the loss of confidence the people have in the judiciary.”

The accomplished lawyer noted that if he had his way, judges will no longer be used in determining the course of electoral justice, and a new way fashioned to address electoral conflicts.

Below is full text of Banire’s remarks:

Distinguished readers, you are welcome to our weekly leadership discourse. We are in the season of election petition appeals and a lot is going on. #LeadershipTalkDaily

Daily we read about one judgment or the other that sounds not only amazing but at times amusing. Judiciary, as reputed, is the last hope of the common man but as Chidi Odinkalu recently put it, it is gradually becoming the lost hope of the common man.

Ranging from the inability to exit the court upon entry, to injustice, compromise, incompetence, the situation is becoming hopeless.

I have, in the last two decades, engaged myself in the advocacy for the independence of the judiciary and the improvement of the welfare of the judges, simply because of my desire and love for the enthronement of justice. Events unfolding are however becoming frustrating.

Election petition cases have succeeded in further deepening the loss of confidence the people have in the judiciary. If I have my way, I will insist that judges no more get involved in election disputes. We need to fashion a new way of addressing electoral conflicts.

Election petition cases are not only polluting our jurisprudence but contaminating our judicial officers.

Except we want to continue pretending, the impression in the public and the perception of the society on the judiciary is substantially negative, simply because the few of them will not do the proper thing.

There is an exercise going that I stumbled on, the analysis and evaluation of the Court of Appeal decisions on the judgment of tribunals, and the revelation coming out in cases of likes for likes is mind boggling.

As a legal practitioner, the contradictions are huge and appalling, to the extent that no innocent mind can give a pass mark to the court.

If the courts must continue to dabble into electoral disputes, I believe at the appellate level, particularly the Court of Appeal, there is need for consensus on the applicable principles of law.

The haphazard decisions we are witnessing currently are worrisome. It suggests lack of uniform approach to the administration of justice, coupled with the engendering non-predictability of the law.

I am worried and depressed. With respect, I see some warped and irrational decisions in some cases and I truly cried for justice. It seems, to a large extent, that because the court is the final court, no meticulous and detailed attention is being paid to justice.

As a lawyer with conscience, I feel bereaved by the outcomes we are seeing. I and the society seem helpless. We are at the verge of taking our concerns to God, the ultimate judge.

I believe the time is overripe for all stakeholders in the justice system to rise and fundamentally and radically do something about what is going on.

We really need to intervene before the dawn, which is the potential uprising that could consume us all. This is the daunting reality we are facing if we continue to be indifferent.

All leaders of the society must heed the call of John Stuart Mill to speak up otherwise our decaying society will soon collapse. My simple admonition.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Three Schools Contest for N5m Prize in Finals of Glo Innov8 Competition

Published

on

By

Three Nigerian secondary schools are in the ring for the grand prize of N5m in the ongoing Glo Innov8 National STEM competition for girls in Senior Secondary Schools across the country.

The three top finalists were selected for their originality and innovation in the different entries for the competition. A total of 20 secondary schools were picked from over 200 schools which registered for the competition. After a series of considerations, 10 of them made it to the semifinal from which three; Ephraim High School, Isolo Campus, Lagos; Regina Pacis International School, Onitsha, Anambra State; and Peakfield Academy, Jos, Plateau State eventually coasted home to the finals.

Schools from Plateau, Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Borno, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Oyo, Anambra, FCT, Delta, Kaduna and Adamawa states had signified intentions to participate following a call for entries by Glo Foundation, Globacom’s corporate social responsibility arm as part of its celebration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.

Glo Innov8, a STEM-driven challenge, has scheduled prizes worth N5 million to the three schools in the finals. The competition “is geared at inspiring young girls to Compete, Innovate and Win, while also strengthening their confidence and expanding their knowledge in STEM subjects”, Glo Foundation explained.

The eventual overall winning school will go home with a cash prize of N2,000,000 while the 2 students representing the school will each get a laptop. The Teacher/Mentor/STEM Coordinator also gets N200,000.

The schools that come second and third places and their Teachers/Mentors/STEM Coordinators will also receive mouth-watering consolation prizes.

The three female judges of the virtual phase of selection of the top 20 schools said they were excited by the quality of presentations by the competing schools. One of them, Tosin Olabode said: “I was particularly impressed by the prototype presentations from some schools. They demonstrated that they had done their homework”.

In the same vein, Amina Gabriel disclosed that she was thrilled by the variety of ideas that the schools came up with. “The schools presented innovative solutions tackling issues in agriculture, security, waste management, and firefighting. The top 10 schools showcased outstanding prototypes, from apps to robots, making the judging process truly competitive. I’m grateful to Glo Foundation for the opportunity to serve and support young girls in STEM”, she said.

According to Sharon Ibejih, the third judge, “This competition has showcased a highly competitive next generation of women leaders in STEM. This was an excellent exercise and a means to encourage more students in STEM to develop problem-solving and innovative thinking skills”.

The overall winning school will emerge at an event set to hold later this year at the Mike Adenuga Centre (Alliance Française), Ikoyi, Lagos.

Continue Reading

News

Nnamdi Kanu Files Motion to Stop Judgment in Alleged Terrorism Trial

Published

on

By

The leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a motion to stop the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in his trial for alleged terrorism.

Justice James Omotosho, on November 7, fixed November 20 for judgment on the case.

The judge fixed the date after Kanu’s defence was foreclosed following his insistence that he would not enter his defence under a repealed law.

However, in the motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, he personally filed, the IPoB leader sought seven reliefs.

In the application dated November 10 and filed same date, Kanu sought an order arresting the delivery of judgment in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015.

The document was made public on Tuesday.

In it, he alleged that the proceedings were conducted under a repealed and non-existent statute and in disobedience to the Supreme Court’s directive contrary to Section 287(1) CFRN 1999.”
He sought a declaration that by virtue of Section 287(1) CFRN, the trial court was constitutionally bound to give effect to the Supreme Court’s finding that count 15 (now count 7) “does not exist in law,” and its failure rendered all subsequent proceedings null and void.

He also sought a declaration that the court’s failure to take judicial notice of the repeal of the 2013 Terrorism Act, contrary to Section 122 Evidence Act 2011, vitiates all steps taken thereunder.

The IPOB leader equally sought a declaration that by virtue of Section 76(1)(d)(iii) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to try him in the absence of proof that the alleged conduct constituted an offence under Kenyan law or of any Kenyan judicial validation or extradition order.

Besides, Kanu sought “a declaration that the plea purportedly taken on March 29, under a repealed and non-existent statute and in violation of Section 220 ACJA 2015 is void and incapable of conferring jurisdiction.

Continue Reading

News

Again, Court Stops PDP National Convention

Published

on

By

A Federal High Court in Abuja has again stopped the Peoples Democratic Party from proceeding with its planned national convention scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State, between November 15 and 16.

The court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any outcome from the planned convention where national officers were expected to be elected, Channels reports.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the restraining order on Tuesday while ruling on an application filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.

Lamido had sued the party, alleging that he was unjustly denied the opportunity to purchase the nomination form for the national chairmanship position, thereby excluding him from the exercise.

Justice Lifu said the order became necessary because the PDP failed to comply with the relevant legal requirements guiding the conduct of such conventions.

He noted that evidence before the court showed the party did not publish the timetable for the exercise as required by law, and therefore acted in breach of due process.

The judge further held that the balance of convenience favoured Lamido, as he would suffer greater harm if unlawfully excluded from the process.

“In a constitutional democracy, due process of law must be strictly observed by those in authority. To act otherwise is to endanger the very foundation of democracy itself,” he said.

He added that, under Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, courts must not abdicate their responsibility of delivering justice without fear or favour.

Justice Lifu warned that anarchy could result anywhere the judiciary fails to perform its constitutional duties.

In his final ruling, the court restrained the PDP from holding the convention on November 15 and 16, or on any other date, in Ibadan or elsewhere.

It also ordered INEC not to monitor or recognise the outcome of any such gathering organised by the party.

In October 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the PDP from proceeding with its planned national convention.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho ordered that the convention be halted until the party complies with the statutory requirements of its constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act.

The suit was instituted by three aggrieved members of the party, Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).

They asked the court to stop the PDP’s scheduled national convention in Ibadan, where new national officers were expected to be elected, arguing that the planned convention violated the Electoral Act and the PDP’s internal rules.

However, on November 4, the Oyo State High Court granted the PDP approval to proceed with its convention.

Justice Akintola issued an interim order permitting the party to continue its convention plans without obstruction, following an ex-parte motion filed by Folahan Adelabi against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee) and INEC.

Justice Akintola, however, on Monday, adjourned the hearing of a Motion on Notice in a separate suit filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi against the PDP, its acting National Chairman, and other respondents.

The judge explained that the adjournment was to allow both parties to file and exchange all necessary processes before the substantive hearing could begin.

Continue Reading

Trending