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The Executive- Director Initiative for Citizens’ Rights, Accountability and Development (ICRAD), a non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mr Hassan Luqman has described the country’s post independence judiciary as “world class’’.
Luqman, also an Abuaja-based Legal Practitioner on made the claim on Monday during an interview.
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He explained that the country’s legal structure and jurisprudence ranked in post independence ranked among the best in the world, adding that efforts by some “bad eggs’’ in the profession to devalue it must stop.
According to him, the system has produced world class judges and practitioners that can compete with their peers at world stage.
“Nigerian judiciary still remains the envy of most nations in spite of the current challenges. We must also appreciate its role as the fulcrum of our democracy.
“The story of Nigerian Judiciary is evolutionary. It has been stories of resilience, professionalism and activism.
“As Nigeria celebrates her 59th Independence, we made bold to say that by and large, Nigerian Judiciary remains out pride and must be respected.
“We must note that series of reforms that had happened in the sector have undoubtedly diluted the influence of British laws inherited’’, Luqman said.
He noted that once upon a time the nation had relied heavily on legal expatriates for the operation of its courts.
Luqman however said the system eventually turned around for the better when indigenous lawyers and jurists were groomed and exported for the benefit of the rest of the world.
“We have seen this played out when many African countries relied on Nigeria to develop their legal systems and the training of their personnel’’, he said.
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On tackling corruption in the sector, Luqman said President Muhammadu Buhari has shown some flashes of commitment to rid corrupt judges out of the system.
He however, said judicial officers and practitioners must engage in self appraisal of their conduct with a view to re-positioning the sector for public trust.
NAN
