Owerri, Imo State
Wahala don dey brew for Imo State judiciary again as 25 lawyers, including some top Senior Advocates, don carry petition go Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. Dem dey shout say make she intervene fast because one new law don land wey dey try strip Acting Chief Judge of power to assign cases to judges. Na serious matter o!
This koko bust for the petition wey land on 13 November, say dis law don dey cause wahala wey fit threaten judicial independence and make the leadership crisis wey don dey drag for over one year worsen. Na who no go vex when dem see say law dey behind their back like thief for night!
The lawyers, led by Jibrin Okutepa and Femi Falana, don drop some serious questions about the High Court (Amendment) Law No. 16 of 2022. Dem talk say wetin be this law wey transfer power to assign cases to Chief Registrar anytime dem no get Chief Judge? Dis thing no too dey normal. Abi dem wan turn judiciary to playground?
As e be, the law only bubble after Ijeoma Agugua enter as Acting Chief Judge on 26 September. Na when she don carry gavel chop ground, everybody begin wahala! Nobody in the legal circle, including past Chief Judges and the Nigerian Bar Association for Imo, sabi say such law dey until na now wey dem don open mouth talk am.
No be small drama wey dey unfold as the lawyers mention say inconsistencies dey around how this law take land. Between April and September, acting Chief Judge, T.N. Nzeukwu, assign cases like say e no gree obey that wahala law wey no even introduce am, yet now e don dey expose!
But na wetin fit cause problem pass be say the NJC don reject Governor Hope Uzodinma‘s appointment of T.N. Nzeukwu, tell am say he no go fit assign anybody when dem no fit follow constitution. Na wa o, so dem dey play pass football for judiciary too!
As dem dey shake things up, the coalition don warn say if the CJN no take action within 14 days, dem go carry matter go court. Na serious gbege dis! If dem fit handle passing like politics, we go sabi say judiciary no dey follow their own rules again!
For now, we dey wait as the Imo State Government never respond to this well-fine petition, and the people no dey sleep well for matter wey concern law and order for their state. Finally, make dem no forget say law suppose dey work for people, no be gidi gidi everywhere. Judiciary matter no be play!
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