DAN NWANYANWU LAMBAST LAWYERS CALLS FOR JUDICIAL OVERHAUL
By Raymond Enoch
Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, the national chairman of the zenith labour party (ZLP), has condemned the unethical practices of some lawyers and judicial officers, accusing them of degrading the integrity of the judiciary in Nigeria. in a recent press conference,
Nwanyanwu expressed dismay over the increasing incidence of “black market” injunctions and the disregard for legal precedents established by the Supreme Court, especially in politically charged cases.
Chief Nwanyanwu’s outburst came in view of the conflicting injunctions from lower courts regarding the upcoming local government election in Rivers State.
According to him, some lawyers and judicial officers have turned the courts into a common marketplace where judgments are secured by the highest bidder; a practice he said has significantly eroded public confidence in the judiciary.
The ZLP Chairman emphasized that the judiciary, once revered as the last hope of the common man, is now fast becoming an institution where lawyers manipulate rulings for personal and political gain. He particularly decried the practice as “forum shopping,” where parties deliberately seek favorable rulings from multiple courts, leading to conflicting judgments.
Nwanyanwu highlighted the case in Rivers state, where the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) has been faced with conflicting court rulings with one court issuing an injunction stopping the local government election scheduled for Saturday, while another court ordered the election to proceed.
He stressed that the legal confusion not only embarrasses the judiciary but also casts doubt on its ability to uphold justice.
“The lower courts, with the greatest respect, have become an enterprise where the highest bidder gets judgment or any injunction at will,”
Nwanyanwu lamented. he also pointed out that the supreme court has previously taken a clear stance on local government autonomy, yet lower courts continue to deviate from this position in violation of the principle of “stare decisis,” which mandates that lower courts follow the decisions of higher courts.
Nwanyanwu called on the newly appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to take decisive action to restore the judiciary’s credibility. he noted that the CJN has already made it clear of her zero-tolerance stance on corruption within the judiciary. Nwanyanwu expressed hope that she would act swiftly to address the rot within the legal system.
“we know her pedigree, we know her trajectory, she is a no-nonsense judge, and she should put her feet down to clean the Augean stable,” Nwanyanwu further called for a comprehensive review of the judiciary’s operations, including stricter oversight on lawyers and judges involved in unethical practices.
nwanyanwu suggested that lawyers who engage in malpractice should face severe consequences, including disbarment. he also urged the nigerian bar association (nba) to take a more active role in ensuring that professional ethics are upheld across all levels of the judiciary.
on the topic of the rivers state local government election, nwanyanwu was firm in his position that the election must proceed as scheduled. he warned that any attempt to postpone or cancel the election would be met with legal action from his party, which has already invested significant resources in campaigning.
according to nwanyanwu, the law clearly states that no court can stop the independent national electoral commission (inec) or state electoral commissions from conducting elections. he stressed that the ongoing legal tussles were instigated by those who fear losing at the polls and are seeking ways to undermine the electoral process.
“SIEC in rivers should not give us any excuse, or else they will face litigations compelling them to pay us back all the money and inconveniences,” nwanyanwu stated. “no law is stopping them; they should go on and conduct the election, and heaven will not fall.”
Nwanyanwu also dispelled rumors that the SIEC headquarters had been sealed by security operatives, clarifying that the security presence was based on reports of a potential bombing threat. he commended the government for acting on the security intelligence to protect the electoral body.
nwanyanwu concluded by emphasizing the importance of judicial integrity in upholding democracy, warning that if the judiciary does not clean up its act, it risks becoming part of the problem that could destabilize Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
He expressed confidence that the new CJN, with her strong track record, would take the necessary steps to restore public faith in the judiciary. “Her name will be written in gold if she is credited with cleaning and cleansing the judiciary,” Nwanyanwu remarked.
The ZLP Chairman’s comments underscore the growing frustration with Nigeria’s legal system, especially when it comes to politically sensitive cases. his call for reform resonates with many who believe that the judiciary must act as a neutral arbiter rather than a tool for political manipulation.
