A Judicial NGO, Access to Justice has joined others to condemns the actions of the DSS and further condemns the continuing silence of the federal government over the atrocious conduct of its agency over the arrest of Sahara Reporters Publishers, Omoyele Sowore.
According to the group, the atrocious interference with court proceedings by government operatives, may be the rehearsal of a more portentous line of action against courts in the near future.
The group who expressed their dismay over the development through a statement made available to Top Court News, signed by Chinwendu Obierefu, demanded that the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council should convene an urgent “Save Nigeria Judiciary” meeting of Judicial Officers in Nigeria.
“The meeting should explore stronger, cogent and collegial ways of responding to both the escalating incidence of disrespect of the judicial branch of government and the depredation of the rule of law in Nigeria”.
Also they want the Judicial Bodies to develop a set of policies and directives, similar to the National Judicial Policy adopted by the NJC in 2016 following the night raids on Judges’ and Justices’ homes, that encourage and guide judicial responses to acts of affront, intimidation and disrespect to the courts.
Access to Justice emphasised that such policies and directives should declare that it could be an act of misconduct for a court to fail, facing contempt of its orders and authority, to take decisions and actions to uphold its dignity and hold contemnors accountable for their actions.
The group wants Judges to show far better willingness and resolve in defending the Judiciary’s democratic role and constitutional authority alongside public faith in the judicial process by using its’ inherent contempt powers to deal with, and vigorously restrain contempt of judgments and orders.
