No be small matter we dey see for our judiciary as Pastor Tunde Bakare don land for Lagos to drop some hot gist for dem lawyers and judges. E dey push dem make dem emulate late Chief Gani Fawehinmi wey sabi fight for better justice. Na at the 22nd Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture wey go down for Ikeja, Bakare talk say integrity don go hide for the justice system wey suppose dey protect we the people.
Pastor Bakare no hold back as e yarn about the palava wey dey happen for judiciary. According to am, e don gather information wey show say corruption don knack this area, naija lawyers and judges dey collect bribes like say dem dey gather money for lottery! Between 2018 and 2020, wahala come be say N3.7 billion na im don enter judge hand as bribe. Chai! Na wetin dem go do with all dis money?
Abeg, make we put mouth for wetin Bakare talk: “Over 70 percent of the people wey dey carry court matter come court don manipulates documents! E mean say we no fit trust wetin dey happen for inside court again. How we wan get justice when dem dey sell am like pepper for market?”
Na here e yarn say judges dey turn bench to ‘work-chop’, where dem dey chop work instead of ensuring justice. No be say our judiciary suppose dey turn to supermarket o! Wetin remain for us wey go help restore di good name of judiciary? Bakare highlight say 34 out of 62 lawyers wey dem don nominate for judge position fail integrity test. E be like say law no dey carry weight again for we matter!
Bakare come dey urge dem lawyers and judges to bring back di kind values wey Gani Fawehinmi carry for head. Di qualities wey Gani dey showcase like punctuality, diligence, and strong sense of responsibility no fit just waka comot. E talk say, “Diligence no fit separate from integrity! If you dey cut corner, e mean say you no fit stand gidigba for your case!”
As dem dey try fix our justice sector, Bakare no forget mention say dem need big reforms. Financial independence for judges, better working conditions, and even evaluation wey go ensure dem dey do correct work na im dey matter. E fit help tackle the larger national issues wey dey plague us – from ethno-religious wahala to security issues.
E conclude by telling dem say na time for all of us to shine light on the positive side wey Gani represent. Naija need lawyers and judges wey go be guardians of justice, protectors of di innocent, and make sure say dem dey fight for righteousness. Gani done show say e possible to win with clean hands. Na so e be!
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