The Nigerian Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) has expressed deep concern over the increasing issuance of frivolous court orders and injunctions by judges, especially in politically sensitive cases.
The group cited the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State as an example.
HURIWA warned the National Judicial Council (NJC) that such acts could jeopardize Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and called on it to immediately sanction judicial officials involved in the operation.
NEWSPAPER PLEDGE reported that political instability in Rivers State has been exacerbated by contradictory court orders by various judges ahead of the October 5 local government elections in the state.
HURIWA said this reflects Nigeria’s difficult political history and threatens the stability of the democratic process.
In recent weeks, a legal battle has erupted in Rivers State, with judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja issuing interim injunctions that are expected to destabilize the duly elected government of the state. FURIWA stressed that many of these orders are tainted by bribery allegations, which the group said further erodes public confidence in the judiciary.
FURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, warned that corrupt judges are contributing to the erosion of democratic order and that the judiciary is at risk of becoming an instrument of political manipulation.
Onwubiko said, “The judiciary must not be reduced to a pawn in a political game.
There is a disturbing trend, particularly in the Capital Territory, of judges issuing reckless court orders aimed at destabilizing legitimate governments and undermining democratic processes,” he added.
FURIWA called on the NJC, the body responsible for regulating the conduct of judges, to take swift and decisive action against growing corruption within the judiciary.
The association maintained that judicial officials and lawyers involved in issuing or facilitating questionable court orders will face serious consequences.
The NJC must live up to its responsibilities and ensure that corrupt judges are held accountable. This issue goes beyond Rivers State and concerns the survival of our democracy.
“Judges who issue orders in exchange for bribes are not only violating the law but also undermining the will of the people,” HURIWA stressed.
HURIWA also called on the NJC to establish mechanisms to monitor the issuance of interim orders and interim injunctions in politically sensitive cases.