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Judiciary Not A Corrupt Institution- Justice Ebenezer Adebajo(retd)
A former judge of the high court, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, has said that judiciary is not a corrupt institution. The retired judge state this in an interview with vanguard.
As a former Judge of the High Court, how, in your opinion, can corruption be eradicated in the judiciary?
There is no question of wiping out corruption in the judiciary. I am of the very strong view that the judiciary is not a corrupt institution. There are corrupting influences scouting around the judiciary. Yes! The judiciary itself is not a corrupt institution. Judges are hard working, self giving people. They have onerous duty to cope with, not to be faced with the kind of image that they are burdened with presently. I believe that it is the corrupt people scouting around, who are flying around the judges, that have corrupted one or two persons. The judiciary itself is not a corrupt institution.
With recent development in the judiciary, do you think thorough screenings were carried out on judges before their appointment?
I do believe that thorough screening takes place. I know that the so called DSS do write security report on people who are interested in becoming judges before they are appointed. Thorough screening takes place as to the intellectual capability and the kind of person they are. There is no perfect system. The most important element in the appointment of judges is honesty.
Some judges have said that they are being harassed by anti-graft agencies because their hands are tied. What is your position on that?
Yes. The hand of a judge is always tied by the law. A judge is obliged to follow the law. That is the meaning of “my hands are tied.” What it simply means is that the law is so definite and as a judge I am obliged to follow it, I cannot do otherwise.
Exercise of discretion
It has nothing to do with dishonesty, it has nothing to do with being corrupt, it has nothing to do with having negotiated a judgement, it is that the law is clear. So when the law is so clear on an issue, the area of the exercise of discretion by a judge is limited. That is what that phrase means.
What would you say about Justice Inyang Okoro’s bribery allegation against the former Governor of Rivers State and current minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and claim that the issue was reported to the CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, with no action taken?
You do not create a scene when nothing has happened. You do not rock the boat for no reason at all. The judge has reported it and given a third party notice of it, which is sufficient.
Don’t you think something good will, at the end, come out of the judges’ probe, such that those on the bench are put on their toes against corrupt practises?
Nothing good can come out of a situation when you let dogs and hell loose on an institution such as the judiciary. Each and every judge is an embodiment of that institution, that is, the judiciary. When you attack a judge, you attack the institution. The DSS’s invasions of the judges’ home were an invasion of an institution. This will not be tolerated in a society that is striving to attain the best in the rule of law.
What appropriate steps do you think can be employed in the fight against corruption in the judiciary?
Matthew 7:3-4 says why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? From my experience, having sat on some EFCC’s case, that is EFCC criminal matters brought to my court, my experience is that politically exposed persons are especially privileged people in the society and it should not be so.
Vilification of the judiciary
They should be the ones who are extra sensitive as to what impression they make and what is said about them. It is unfortunate that judges are people who are hardly ever heard, except through their judgements. I believe it is grossly unfair for people to attack these people (Judges) who are really not able to defend themselves in their onerous duties.
The raid, misconceived, misapplied and poorly carried out by the DSS has created an impression that the executive wanted to vilify the judiciary. The vilification of the judiciary can never augur well for the country. If something is amiss, we see how best to put it right by giving ourselves notice that something is amiss. But let those who are scouting around the judiciary, who influence corruption to go and sit down. Why don’t you punish these people first? Why don’t you take those people out and then see how good the judiciary is? It is those who influence the corruption that they should go after.
In your view, is Department of State Services, DSS a legal body?
The law says State Security Services, (SSS) not Department of State Services. What is the governing law of that agency? That is what we have to look at. The law created and gave name to that agency but it is the journalists who aid and abet the bridge by repeating what is obviously an error and a mischief. If the media insists on calling the child by his name, then they will have no choice to continue bearing the name and amend the law that gave birth to that child.
What is your advice to the judiciary and the executive arms of government on the issues of corruption and probe of Judges?
If Nigeria is going to be preserved, the judiciary must stand-up to the executive in this matter. I wish the CJN and NJC best of luck.
Like the SSS metamorphosed to DSS, so is seen in some states’ prosecutorial name. Before your retirement, you ruled that there was nothing like “The State of Lagos” as used in prosecution. Till date, there was not compliance to that order. What do you make of this?
I think it was the Governor of Osun State who started this issue of naming it ‘State’ of which he is the governor. And somebody said the father is entitled to name his baby whatever he wishes to name it. With the greatest respect, Osun State is not anybody’s baby; it is a creation of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. Lagos State is also a creation of the Constitution.
I did make a judgement that the Administration of Criminal Law of Lagos State contains a provision that is at variance with the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria and I ruled it should be struck out. But until today, neither the Lagos State ministry of justice, it’s Attorney General, nor has the governor make presentation of a bill to stop that nomenclature.
“The State of Lagos” as a prosecutorial name. They have not had it repelled. This, of course, is a disobedience to the order of the court. But, then, I am no longer on the Bench. It is sad that the state governments in Nigeria are disinclined to obey judgements that are not favourable to them. I find it absurd and an abuse of its position that an Attorney General of Federal Republic of Nigeria will be knowledgeable of the fact that a state is addressing itself as “The State of Lagos” or “The State of Osun”. These are aberrations to the Constitution and the Federal Attorney General is there saying nothing. With the greatest respect, he should have approached the Supreme Court to correct this.
celebrity radar - gossips
TINUBU IS THE WISEST MAN EARTH -PROPHET IKURU
TINUBU IS THE WISEST MAN EARTH -PROPHET IKURU.
by Collins Nkwocha
Nigerian prophet, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Lagos magnetized everyone’s attention when he referred to the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the wisest man on earth regarding the appointment of Daniel Bwala as special Adviser on policy communications.
Speaking to reporters today in Lagos,
Prophet Ikuru applauded the president for choosing him and enunciated that he’s capable of delivering effectively and marketing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president and urged Nigerians to stop the criticism because of what he said in the past “I’m personally happy with his appointment and I urge Nigerians to forget about the past, forget about what he must have said about the president some years ago which people are now disseminating on the social and taunting him a betrayal that lacks integrity, Nigerians should forget his past because he’s the best choice”.
Prophet Ikuru insisted that Bwala saw the sincerity and genuity of the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda and he decided to partake in it “even if he criticized the president, it was in the past, he saw the sincerity in the Renewed Hope Agenda and decided to join in nation building ,the president is ready to unite everyone in order to build Nigeria,that’s why someone like Wike is in his government,Bwala has what it’s required to be successful under Mr.president, as a wise man, the president saw it and decided to harness it ”
Finally, he praised Tinubu and referred to him as a great leader who is ready to involve everyone in his government, he maintained that his wisdom is magnanimous ,Baba is truly the wisest man on earth.
celebrity radar - gossips
U.S. Courtroom Shock: Funke Ashekun, Husband Collapse as MFM Wins
U.S. Courtroom Shock: Funke Ashekun, Husband Collapse as MFM Wins
celebrity radar - gossips
Had FFK Faced Mehdi Hassan, Nigeria Would Have Spoken With Fire
Had FFK Faced Mehdi Hassan, Nigeria Would Have Spoken With Fire
By Mohammed Bello Doka
In politics, timing is everything. In diplomacy, character is everything. And in moments of national importance, leadership must be entrusted to individuals who possess not only experience but courage, intellect and an unshakable commitment to the nation they represent.
It is for this reason that the appointment of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode as Nigeria’s Ambassador to a foreign nation stands out as one of the most consequential diplomatic decisions in recent years.
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, better known in the South as “FFK” and in the North as “Sadauki”, is one of the most brilliant, experienced, accomplished, vocal, respected, educated, profound, intellectual, patriotic, disciplined, well-read, historically literate, versatile, forceful, persuasive, sophisticated, cosmopolitan, charming, eloquent, courageous and resilient men in Nigerian politics and he has paid his dues and proved his worth over the last 35 years in politics and political discourse.
In each role he has played he has excelled and succeeded even when he was in opposition.
His friends value him as a great and loyal defender and his traducers and political adversaries fear and respect him because when he goes to war he is utterly relentless, takes no prisoners and literally spits fire.
How I wish it was him that was interviewed by Mehdi Hassan of Al Jazeera and not the young and inexperienced Daniel Bwala because he would have not only humbled Hassan but also done Nigeria proud.
He played Bwala’s present role in the Presidential Villa 23 years ago as President Olusegun Obasanjo’s spokesman and not only brought the then President’s domestic enemies to their knees but also had a series of very hot exchanges with foreign Government officials like America’s Under-Secreatary of State for Africa Jendaye Fraser and the White House over the Charles Taylor issue and Liberia.
Tinubu decision to appoint him as an Ambassador for our nation was a wise one because he will fight for and protect the interests of Nigeria and the Nigerian community whetever he goes and will never sell his soul or bow to foreign imperialist interests.
His appointment is not about just rewarding loyalty for the key role he played in Tinubu’s presidentiel campaign organisation as Director of New Media and Special Operations in 2023 and the staunch support he has given the President over the last three years but also about putting a square peg in a square hole.
If you want to put Nigeria first Sadauki is the one to do it.
If he runs the Nigerian Mission in the country that he is sent to in the same way he ran the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Aviation when he was Minister to each of them one after the other twenty years ago he will do very well and both our nation and whichever nation he is posted to itself will benefit from his efforts.
History teaches that diplomacy is most effective when nations deploy individuals who possess both intellect and courage.
As the American statesman Henry Kissinger once noted, “Diplomacy is the art of restraining power.”
To do so successfully requires deep historical awareness and strategic clarity—qualities that have long defined Fani-Kayode’s political career.
Sending a politically seasoned voice like FFK to any nation that is a key partner to Nigeria signals that Bola Ahmed Tinubu intends to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic posture with confidence.
Throughout more than three decades in the political arena, Fani-Kayode has remained one of the most resilient and outspoken figures in Nigerian public life despite numerous challenges which would have broken and destroyed lesser men.
Regardless of all that was thrown at him he continues to pull through and come out victorious which is why many refer to him as the “Akanda Eledumare” and the “Ayanfe Oluwa” which mean “the strange one of God” and “the beloved of the Lord”.
There appears to be a divine dimension to his life that makes him unstoppable and irrepressible even though his enemies are legion.
One wonders what sets him apart and makes him so different.
There is no doubt that his education played a part in it and this set him apart from most.
He never went to school in Nigeria but was educated from the age of eight in England starting off at Holmewood House School in Kent, one of the UK’s best and most famous Preparatory schools, after which he attended the famous Harrow School just outside London which is, together with Eton College, an institution that is the exclusive preserve of high society in the UK, one of the two best private schools in that country where only the ruling elite, the rich, the well-to-do, the famous and only a tiny proportion of those in British high society can afford or even qualify to attend.
No less than eight British Prime Ministers, including the great Sir Winston Churchill, and countless British cabinet ministers attended Harrow and so did many leaders, diplomats and top politicians from many foreign countries.
After finishing at Harrow he attended some of the top universities in the world, including London University (SOAS) and Cambridge University (Pembroke College) where he did so well.
As a matter of fact his great grandfather, Rev. Emmanuel Adelabi Kayode, attended Furrough Bay College which at that time was part of Durham University and graduated with an MA (Hons.) in Theology in 1893. His grandfather Justice Adedapo Kayode attended Cambridge University (Selwyn College) where he studied law and graduated in 1922. His father Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode attended Cambridge University (Downing College) where he studied law and graduated in 1943. Sadauki himself graduated in law at Cambridge University (Pembroke College) in 1984 whilst his daughter Folake Fani-Kayode graduated from Durham University in 2009.
No African family has an uninterrupted streak of 116 years of Oxbridge-level university graduates except for the Fani-Kayode’s which is something that both his family and every patriotic Nigerian should be proud of.
It therefore makes perfect sense that a man from such a distinguished pedigree and intimidating lineage and that has such an extraordinary intellectual heritage should represent Nigeria on the international stage.
There is also his role in the debate on Gaza which made him a hero in the eyes of millions of people in the Global South both amongst Christians and Muslims.
He spoke out consistently about what he described as the genocide being committed against the Palestinians and he was prepared to put his life and career on the line for this cause even though most Nigerian leaders and politicians refused to say what he was saying publicly out of fear of the Zionist lobby and the Jewish state.
His sense of patriotism is unquestionable and nothing reflects this better than his series of essays written against Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Opposition Conservative Party and his write up against one Ben Llewelyn-Jones, who at that time was the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, when the former consistently sought to insult and denigrate Nigeria and the Nigerian people and the latter attempted to interfere in our internal affairs by making statements in support of Peter Obi and his Obidients in the 2023 presidential elections.
Sadauki successfully put them both in their place and when American Senator Ted Cruz, President Donald Trump, Congressman Tim Riley and other American politicians began to peddle the false narrative and fake gospel of Christian genocide and persecution in Nigeria Sadauki, a devout Christian himself, rose to the challenge and more than any other Nigerian wrote about the issue in a series of essays pointing out the fact that as many Muslims were being killed as Christians by the terrorists in our country and that Christians were not being persecuted by our Government and are in fact faring better when it comes to positions in the security apparatus and governance under Tinubu than they did in the previous administration.
He also spoke out boldly against President Trump and his administration when they accused the Government of South Africa of indulging in genocide against the white minority population in their country and pointed out the fact that South Africa, like Brazil, was a shining example of a successful multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation that was treating its white minority population with the greatest respect. Few Africans said a word to defend South Africa at the time even though they knew that Trump was wrong but Sadauki did so without thinking twice.
He is clearly a strong Pan-Africanist and a believer in the importance of the African Union, African solidarity, the BRICS coalition and the Global South alliance comprising of China, Russia, South Africa, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other emerging world powers.
This is commendable and it reflects his courage and disdain for those that display ignorance, disdain and contempt for our nation and people and that seek to denigrate and misrepresent us.
Sadauki is not the type that bows and quivers before Westerners like so many other Nigerian leaders and politicians but rather takes pride in his Nigerian culture, race, heritage and identity and is prepared to defend us and speak for us no matter whose ox is gored and who is involved.
In an increasingly competitive global environment, Nigeria requires diplomats capable not only of negotiation but also of defending national interests with conviction.
If the energy, eloquence and intellectual fire that have defined Fani-Kayode’s political life accompany him to the country to which he has been posted, his tenure may well become one of the most consequential chapters in Nigeria’s modern diplomatic engagements.
I wish him well and I thank God that he is back in the saddle of public office after so many years.
What more could any of us ask of this great and noble son of Nigeria?
This is undoubtedly the quality of personnel and leaders that we need on the international stage.
I hope and pray that in his endeavours and during the course of his work he meets with Mehdi Hassan in a debate and prove to him and the rest of the world that Nigeria still has men that can not only match them but that can also remove their trousers in any verbal encounter. Bwala put us to shame but FFK can redeem us before the eyes of the world.
(Mohammed Bello Doka, the author of this essay, is the publisher of Abuja Network News and can be reached via [email protected])
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