Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has criticised some of the actions carried out by the Nigerian judges, accusing them of deliberately twisting the law to serve the interests of powerful individuals he described as their paymasters.

Fubara made the remarks during a public address in Port Harcourt while speaking at a legal year and re-dedication service attended by judges, lawyers and senior government officials. In his speech, he warned that judicial officers who abandon integrity for external influence undermine democracy and the rule of law.

“Some of you, you say you are legal luminaries. You know the truth, but you will go on air just to pacify your paymasters and turn the law upside down,” Fubara said.

According to the governor, some judges and legal practitioners knowingly misrepresent legal principles in public pronouncements and court rulings, not out of ignorance, but to satisfy those who wield political or financial influence over them.

He said such conduct erodes public trust in the justice system and weakens institutions meant to safeguard society.

Fubara said judges occupy a sacred position in society and are expected to dispense justice without fear or favour.

“The judiciary is supposed to be the last hope of the common man. When that hope is compromised, then the society is in trouble,” the governor said.

He added that the authority of the judiciary rests on public confidence, which can only be sustained when rulings are based strictly on the law and the facts before the court.

His administration has been locked in disputes involving factions within the Rivers State House of Assembly, following a breakdown in relations between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The crisis escalated after divisions emerged in the legislature, leading to multiple court actions and conflicting judicial decisions that have shaped the balance of power in the state.

Several of the legal battles have centred on the status of lawmakers and control of the assembly, with rulings at different levels of the judiciary generating controversy and political tension.

Fubara, without referring to specific cases or judges, said some judicial interventions had gone beyond legal reasoning and instead reflected the interests of external actors. He cautioned that the long-term damage caused by compromised justice would eventually affect both the judiciary and the society it serves.

Despite his criticism, the governor said he respected the judiciary as an institution and acknowledged judges who, in his words, have continued to uphold justice and fairness despite political pressure.

He said Nigeria’s democracy depends on strong institutions, not individuals, and called on judicial officers to defend the constitution and the rights of citizens. (The Guardian)

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