stanza of the national anthem "To build a nation where peace and
JUSTICE shall reign," but the reverse is the case in the real sense of
it. This is not the case of the height of the injustice done in the
north eastern part of Nigeria which the continuance had made peace,
eludes the people of the region but rather the evil perpetrated
everyday by the police and the justice system (court) in the nation.
The Nigerian nation is that in which it's laws are perverted, and the
arms of government that needs to uphold the law the most, practically
goes against the law the most.
Ever been to a police station or the law court? Then you will
understand better the point I'm driving home. God help you if you have
a case with the Nigerian police, everyone there would assume the role
of a judge, from the least ranked officer to the commisioner of police
not minding due process or rather the court, you will be condemned
from the gate through to the court clerk even before your case is
heard.
The state of anarchy in the judicial system is second to none. I may
not know much about the constitution of the country but one thing I'm
sure of is the Jus gentium; that an accused is innocent until proven
guilty, no matter the offence. Personal sentiments and religious
extremism is the device which our judicial system has come to play,
how then can we achieve peace in such a society?
The case of either right or wrong (guilty or not) is supposed to be
determined by the argument of the prosecuting counsel and the defense
counsel to a case, but damn you if the judge had being biased
-(already have a personal view/opinion about your case and not minding
the argument before the court).
Truly, nothing unites the human hearts like the presence of evil but
then the rule of law need be followed to the letter and everyone
should be given a fair hearing. The principle of fairness should not
be withdrawn from the bodies that ought to uphold the law in the
nation. So many innocents had been convicted for the crime they know
nothing about because there was no fair hearing. The Nigerian prison
is packed with people whose justice have been delayed or denied, and
yet our government boast of upholding the rule of law.
Can we then say truly that justice reigns in the nation? It may not
have happened to you but look around you and see the vile of injustice
in our system.
#daniel o'tega
