- The Nigerian Bar Association has lamented rule of law abuse under President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration
- The association says the rule of law is threatened when the practice of law is brought under siege by agencies of state through their actions or inactions
- According to the NBA, the rule of law is degraded when government fails to build strong institutions that can stand up to the arbitrariness and abuse of power
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed displeasure over rule of law abuse under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that rule of law in the country has suffered degradation in multiple ways.
Vanguard reports that the position of the umbrella body of legal practitioners was contained in a new year message signed by its national president, Paul Usoro (SAN).
Legit.ng gathers that the association said the rule of law is degraded when government fails to build strong institutions that can stand up to the arbitrariness and abuse of power.
The statement read: “In our country, the rule of law suffers degradation in multiple ways. The rule of law is trampled upon when there is no access to justice or when such access is denied, not well defined or is constrained, stifled or impaired howsoever.
“The rule of law is threatened when the practice of law, whether at the Bar or on the Bench, is brought under siege by agencies of state through their actions and/or inactions.
According to NBA, the rule of law suffers subjugation when the rights of the people are trampled upon, whether in terms of rights abuses or brazen disobedience of court orders and judgments.
The statement continued: “The rule of law is degraded when we, wittingly or unwittingly, fail to build strong institutions that can stand up to the arbitrariness and abuse of power. In 2019, we will continue to condemn and beam our searchlights on these undermining practices.
"Nigerian lawyers must stand as a united and independent Bar against these unwholesome and undemocratic practices. In carrying out this responsibility, we must not be cowed or intimidated howsoever.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, August 27, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of elevating national interest above the rule of law.
Three PDP senators who spoke to the press insisted that the rule of law is sacrosanct and the grundnorm of any democracy.
The senator representing Abia south, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said: “Rule of law is the grundnorm of any democratic society. Elevating any other thing above it means moving away from democracy to autocracy.”
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Senate deputy minority leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, said: “Rule of law is national interest number one.”
Chairman, Senate committee on public accounts, Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South), said: “The rule of law is sacrosanct, if we have a legal system that is dictated by laws that are made. Of course, the laws that are made are supposed to be obeyed."
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Source: Legit.ng
