CLA Want Impartial Justice System In Nigeria

The Commonwealth

Lawyers Association (CLA) has called for impartial justice system in the country in order to restore public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary.

This was stated by the president of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Mrs Boma Ozobia while addressing a Press Conference at La Meridien Hotel in Port Harcourt at the end of the just concluded annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt.

Mrs Ozobia said the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) is concerned about the recent crisis in the nations judiciary and the decision of the National Judicial Council (NJC), concerning the suspension of Justice Ayo Salami following his refusal to tender an apology to the retired Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) while they described as quite disturbing.

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association noted that since Justice Ayo Salami had filed a writ at the Federal High Court challenging the decision of the NJC both parties should have maintained the status quo.

The president of the association added that the association is alarmed that despite notification of the pendency of Justice Salami’s suit before a court of competent  jurisdiction, the NJC proceeded with the implementation of its recommendation by asking President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint an Acting President for the Court of Appeal.

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) in their statement recalled the provisions of the Commonwealth (Latimer House) principles on the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary 2003, which provides a roadmap for democracy and good governance in member nations.

The association emphasised the rule of separation of powers between the three arms of government as guarantors of the rule of law promotion and protection of fundamental human rights and the entrenchment of good governance based on the highest standards of honesty, probity and accountability.

The CLA stressed that the maintenance of an independent and efficient judiciary serves to reduce the prevalence of corruption and has a significant impact on overall transparency and improved governance.

Mrs Ozobia, president of the association added that the association supports the views of the Nigerian Bar Association that the crisis in the judiciary has undermined public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of justice administration in the country.

According to her, the association supports full scale independent judicial panel of inquiry into the matter to restore the integrity of the judiciary in Nigeria and internationally.

It will be recalled that the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) is an international organization of lawyers which exists to promote and maintain the rule of law throughout the member countries by ensuring that an independent and efficient legal profession, with the highest standards of ethics and integrity serves the people of the commonwealth countries.

Philip Okparaji