October 10, 2024
By Our Reporter
Former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has called on the newly appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to swiftly address the rot in the judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association during her tenure.
In an open letter to the CJN, Clark, 97, called for a total overhaul of the judicial system, warning that failure to do so would lead to complete disintegration of the institution.
The elder statesman, member of the NBA since 1966, expressed optimism that Justice Kekere-Ekun’s leadership would bring about much-needed reforms. He regretted that previous efforts by others including former CJN Justice Dahiru Mustapher to sanitize the judiciary failed to yield much fruits.
Clark wrote: “It has become imperative for you to reorganize the Supreme Court and its associate bodies to restore the past glory of the judiciary,” Clark wrote, praising Justice Kekere-Ekun’s commitment, dedication, and loyalty to the country.
He reminisced on his experiences growing up when the judiciary was seen as a beacon of integrity, a profession “next to God.” He, however bemoaned the current state of the judiciary, citing corruption scandals, undue political influence, and the mistreatment of former CJN Justice Walter Onoghen as evidence of the decay.
He pointed to numerous troubling developments, including allegations that politicians have influenced judicial decisions, and urged the new CJN to address these issues swiftly to restore public trust in the system.
“My Lord, we the people of Nigeria feel that our country will fail as a nation if it is not restructured, but it will also fail if the judiciary is not reformed,” he concluded, expressing hope that Justice Kekere-Ekun’s appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for Nigeria’s judicial arm.