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Nigerians have become a conquered people, their dynamism and potential neutralized by politicians adept at obtaining power for its own sake but inept at governance and economic management
As for Professor Itse Sagay SAN, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption[PACAC], he insisted on personally delivering his evidence-in-chief as the conscience of the nation even if it meant relying on the front page of “ThisDay” newspaper of the previous day (March 28, 2018) which carried the teaser headline: SAGAY: “JUDGMENTS IN CORRUPTION CASES AGAINST JUDGES SHOW THERE’S ESPIRIT DE CORPS”
“The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itself Sagay (SAN), has said the outcome of corruption trials against some judges clearly showed that there is espirit de corps among the judges.
He disclosed this yesterday at a symposium organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch Human Rights Committee in collaboration with The Jury Justice and Rectitude Advocacy Initiative.
The theme of the event was: ‘Salvaging Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System: The Jury Option’
In his opening remarks as chairman of the event, Sagay said he came to this conclusion after coming out of the shock that enveloped him following judgments of the courts on corruption charges against some judges.
“After my recovery from the shock, it dawned on me that legal knowledge could make judges prone to legal technicalities, creating a barrier between technical law and justice,” he noted.
The Professor of Law however suggested the re-introduction of the jury trial system as a better way to fight corruption in the country.
He noted that in recent years, a lot of evidence has established that some judges cannot be relied upon to uphold the integrity of the judicial system.
According to him, the usual excuses for huge deposits in judges’ account are marriage of judges’ daughters, death of judges’ relations like father, mother, auntie, uncle among others.
Sagay said he supported the abolition of the jury system in 1976 by the military because he believed that laymen could easily be influenced or subjected to other people’s interest and instructions and that a judge, more likely would uphold the integrity of the judicial system among other reasons.
Citing the judgment in the case of a judicial officer charged with corruption, he said judgment in the matter showed that there is es spirit de corps among the judges.
The keynote speaker, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, gave a detailed explanation of the jury trial system and how it operates in some countries around the world, suggested that it should first be introduced in relation to capital offences in selected economically viable states.
Osipitan also suggested introduction of special bar and special bench for the system to work in the country.
According to him, the jury trial system can only be effective in a country with a mostly efficient and up to date data of its citizens.
“Foremost, Nigeria must first update its database system. The National Identity Card database and INEC database might be very helpful if the decision is to introduce jury trial in criminal cases,” he stressed.
Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who was represented by Seidu Atteh, said the commission would accept any trial system that would assist it in fighting corruption cases successfully.
Earlier in her welcome address, the chairman of human rights committee of NBA Ikeja, Mrs. Carol Ibharuneafe, said the theme of the symposium was necessitated by the fact that society has not been aware of the inadequacy of the criminal justice system.
Ibharuneafe pointed out that with high profile cases amongst public officers, the lapses in the law has been exposed and necessitated review to make it work for our society.
Although there have been suggestions from various stakeholders, she said the facts remain that whether special or more courts, they will still be presided by only one person, the judge.
“Given the high propensity of some of our judicial officers to be compromised, those suggestions may achieve little or nothing, hence jury option,” she said.”
As for Professor Kingsley Moghalu, he was not done yet. He was back on his feet to elaborate on his election manifesto:“2019: Time to build, innovate and grow (Big).”
“The choice that faces Nigeria in the 2019 presidential election is one between progress and retrogression, between scary poverty and the prospect of prosperity for millions of our citizens and not just the elite few, between our freedom and our continuing false imprisonment by the political elite that have brought us to our present sorry pass. I want to lead our country as its president because I have a BIG vision for the future of our children and youth.
On current trends of what passes for governance in Nigeria and despite our dynamism and resourcefulness as a people, that future is a bleak one.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund has noted that poverty is increasing in our country and that our economic policy is “muddled”.
We remain the world’s greatest importer of Premium Motor Spirit (refined petroleum) while we export crude oil. How else shall we define madness?
Nigerians have become a conquered people, their dynamism and potential neutralized by politicians adept at obtaining power for its own sake but inept at governance and economic management.
We should now elect in Nigeria leaders with a vision, character, and the intellectual and technocratic competence required to confront our myriad problems of nation-building, poverty and insecurity. My vision stands on a tripod:
Women make up 51 per cent of our population of 186 million people, and there are 60 million youth aged between 18 and 35. Both groups will play a muscular role in my government. We will implement a 50:50 gender parity ratio in political appointments, well above the National Gender Policy recommendation of 30 per cent for women. Competent youth with relevant qualifications and experience will play important leadership roles in the government, ensuring the much-needed inter-generational change of baton in leadership without which any society will enter decline.”
The diplomatic corps were very well represented. They turned up in full force – Ambassadors/High Commissioners from the United States of America; China; Britain; Germany; France; Italy; Japan; South-Africa; Ethiopia etc. it was the Ambassador of Ethiopia who dropped a bombshell –
“Ethiopia is building Africa’s largest dam called the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. When completed, the dam will generate 6,450MW of electricity! The entire project will cost $4.8billion. Ethiopia started work on that dam in 2010. The project is already over 60% completed as at today.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s biggest dam project (Mambilla) will generate 3,000MW and will cost $5.8billion! This is a project Nigeria conceived since 1982. Nigeria has still not achieved even 5% completion!
Compare both projects and countries and see for yourself.
Ethiopia is a landlocked, non-oil, agricultural based economy, yet it has witnessed steady economic growth than Nigeria. Have you heard of Ethiopian Airways, where is Nigerian Airways?”
