Mr. Mba Ukweni, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is urging Nigerians to avoid criticizing or vilifying the nation’s judiciary. He made this appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
His statement comes in response to the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, which was delivered in Abuja on September 6.
Ukweni emphasized that the tribunal judges rendered their judgment and expressed their positions based on the evidence presented before them and in accordance with the law.
The senior advocate also highlighted that there is a recourse available to individuals who are dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decisions.
They can take their case to the Supreme Court, which is the highest court of appeal in Nigeria. This underscores the importance of respecting the legal process and seeking redress through established legal channels rather than resorting to public criticism or demonization of the judiciary.
“I don’t like a situation where the judiciary is castigated to the point of intimidation due to their work. The judiciary has had a lot of rough times in this country.
“There has been the issue of undue interference with the judiciary, an arm of government that is supposed to be independent from the other arms and dispassionate.
“Judges are not infallible. It is only God who is. So, the public should be a little patient with the judiciary,” he said.
He added that what Nigeria needs as a nation is strong institutions.
