Human Rights Group Urges Supreme Court To Continue Passing Judgement Without Fear Of Political Bullying

HURIWA

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has charged the supreme court of Nigeria not to allow political bullying from any quarter affect or influence their position in the high profile cases they are currently adjudicating.

The group urged the Apex court to be above board in cases such as that of the election petitions and also called on the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to safeguard the independence and integrity of the judiciary.

“One way to promote judicial independence is by granting life tenure or long tenure for judges, which ideally frees them to decide cases and make rulings according to the rule of law and judicial discretion, even if those decisions are politically unpopular or opposed by powerful interests,” the National Coordinator of HURIWA Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko said.

Onwubiko declared that courts should not be subject to improper influence from other branches of government or partisan interests, adding that judicial independence is vital to the idea of separation of power.

While calling on the government to review its anti-corruption war and be fair to all, he tasked the media to be objective in reporting political litigation.