Former Federal Commissioner/Ombudsman in the Public Complaints Commission Nigeria and immediate past Chief Technical Adviser to the Government of Imo State on Environment, Barr. Chief Willie Amadi, says there is a hopless and total loss of confidence by the common man in the Nigerian Judicial system.
This is even as Barr Amadi opined that the situation could also be blamed on the the prevailing and increasing daily hardship in the country due to unabated bad governance by both the political class, civil servants and business men doing business with the governments at all levels.
The London and Nigeria trained Legal practitioner, former Special Adviser on Sanitation & Transport and the pioneer General Manager of Environmental Transformation Commission Imo State, which under his Clean & Green initiative the State won the cleanest State capital in the country on three occasions, regretted that the deliberate and sustained diminishing of the powers of critical regulatory institutions in the country such as the EFCC, CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU, POLICE, INEC and most unfortunately and sadly, the once revered JUDICIARY by the political class. These institutions have become just lame ducks and totally subservient to the ruling class and foreigners with vested and manipulative interests in our mineral and natural resources.
Amadi, an Environmentalis who recently unveiled his second book, “The Ombudsman and Justice Delivery in Nigeria”~ Challenges and Prospects
expressed fears that apex court which is on trial today, has turned to “the main hope of the corrupt men and no longer of the common poor man”
He further lamented that “lack of consequences” as today’s norm has given the power brokers and nouveau de rich the impetus to deliberately and recklessly breach the law with impunity because nothing will happen, because the actions are condoned by the judiciary as seen by the negotiated scary judgments which do not have any component of justice. This development has not only scared foreign investors, but has psychologically dehumanised and discouraged citizens from seeking justice in our courts. Barr Amadi warned that adopting self help remedy as an alternative by the helpless citizens and litigants may be the way forward if care is not taken. A Stitch in time will save nine indeed.
Barr Amadi wondered if the rich leaders who are in power today have noticed that the “temperatures” are rising daily on the streets and could occasion a mob reaction by the poor masses, warned that immediate enthronement of good governance, rule of law and protection of citizen’s fundamental rights remains the only escape route in the very near future.
On whether it is imperative to restructure the Nigeria judiciary, and the National Assembly and by extension the Country. Amadi regretted that while both arms of government have been compromised and bought over, it is only the preservation of strong institutions can guarantee good governance in Nigeria as obtainable in other climes where strong institutions dictate and guide on decisions to be taken. He cited the powers of the police and the courts, particularly the Supreme Court of the United States. He recalled that late Senate Presidents Okadigbo, Nnamani and Speaker Ghali Nabba led National Assembly were the last legislative arm that brought dignity, honor and integrity to the legislature.
On rising insecurity in Nigeria, he recalled that the issue of insurgency and criminality including unreported genocide against Christians in Nigeria since 2015 till date, culminated in forcing the United States of America to finally designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”~ CPC. The protracted insecurity as witnessed today, he recalled, began with the clear sabotage of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s through the Chibok girls saga, which was invented to stop Jonathan’s second term bid. Surprisingly, the insecurity that was escalated later boomeranged under late President Muhammadu Buhari who helplessly looked the other way as foreign criminal elements and religious extremists trooped and were allowed entry into the country through an open boarder control and passages arrangement.
Sadly, Buhari failed to manage the man made situation which eventually messed up his administration that condoned massive looting and outright embezzlement of our commonwealth including destruction of our values in governance, accountability and management of the economy.
According to him, the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited the mess and it does appear that the administration could be attoning for their sins in the conspiracy of the 2015 Presidential election against Goodluck Jonathan.
On the threat by President Donald Trump about invading Nigeria to stop the genocide by flushing out the terrorists, Barr Amadi advised the country to leverage on the United States likely intervention and appeal to the American government to establish a military base in Nigeria in order to permanently eradicate this hydra headed insurgency and ultimately tranquilize the Sahel region. The lawyer insisted that the buck stops on Mr. President’s table, and as such, he alone takes full responsibility for the escalating insecurity in the country. He insisted that Mr. President must act fast and ignore naive diplomatic opinion analysts to avoid further damage.
On the contentious issue of Imo Charter of Equity, the Owerri Nchise-born socialite, politician and clan High Chief of the five autonomous communities of Owere expressed optimism that an Imo Governor of Owerri Zone extraction would emerge in 2027, God willing
He announced a notice of his retirement from active partisan politics on his 65th birthday come November 30th 2027, but said that during the transition period, he will continue to Chair the Social Media sub-committee at Imo Harmony Project, an umbrella body of Owerri Zone that is pushing for an Imo governor of Owerri Zone extraction, when he believes that, his involvement in politics will be rested with the blessed assurance of the Charter of Equity.
Barr Amadi, a scholar and doctorate degree candidate of Law said that he will focus on research, writing and teaching of law in the Universities, post 2027.
