Chris Awhawha
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.
Comrade Sheriff in a statement on Monday, emphasized the importance of the judiciary as a pillar of democracy and the last hope of the common man.
He said, “ Mr. President, 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,”
“We are deeply worried about some recent judgments that have 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.”
Mulade 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.”
“ I want to strongly appeal to Mr. President and our reverend judges to save Nigeria judiciary integrity irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliation. It is worthy of note that the failure of the Nigeria judiciary will create room for chaos and anarchy that will lead to self-defense by Nigerians. Therefore, political judges in the judiciary should resign to save our justice system and the people before mass protests”
“ 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.
“Our democracy cannot survive if the judiciary is compromised. We implore you, Mr. President, to act decisively and protect the independence of the judiciary. This is a critical step toward ensuring fairness, justice, and equality for all Nigerians,”