A renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barr. Ngozi Olehi says judicial excellence is critical to supporting the rule of law if the disappearance of democracy in Nigeria is to be halted and Nigeria’s current political and socio-economic ailing status is to be reversed.
He said that poor leadership and weak governance have place Nigeria on life support wherefrom it is struggling to meet up with even minimum standard of democratic values that can sustain the society.
Speaking at the opening of the New Legal Year with the theme “Rekindling Judicial Excellence: The Bar, The Bench and the Burden of Restoration” organized by the Imo State Judiciary, Barr. Olehi, SAN said judicial excellence is a prerequisite for the effective functioning of rule of law while a strong rule of law enables and sustains judicial excellence.
He said that the key elements of judicial excellence namely: integrity, impartiality, independence, competence, legal knowledge, and efficiency of judges make it the foundation of rule of law adding that no democracy survives the dynamics of human existence which are constantly facing conflicts and confrontation if the human activities are unguarded and unchecked by credible judicial institution.
He contended that the relationship between judicial excellence and the rule of law is deep and mutually reinforcing pointing out that it is the joint operation of the two that separate a given area from jungle governance which in turn detest the practice of law and compliance to the ethics of the legal profession.
Barr. Olehi, SAN insisted that rule of law builds confidence in the justice system, promotes lawful conduct and ensures that judicial power is exercised responsibly, upholding public trust in the law while an excellent judiciary acts as a guardian of constitutionalism, check on executive and legislative excesses, and protector of citizens’ rights, thereby anchoring the rule of law.
He argued that it is not in the interest of the executive and the legislature for the judiciary to be subjected to any public ridicule for any reason whatsoever and advised legal practitioners never to allow themselves not to defend the judiciary because of parochial, partisan or political interests since an injury to that revered institution amounts to a vicious attack on foundation of decency of a society and a severe deterrent to investors.
Barr. Olehi, SAN advised judges and lawyers in the State to accept the duty of rekindling judicial excellence since in the past months, the image of the judiciary and legal profession in the State was negatively affected by certain unwholesome incidents that virtually crippled administration of justice and opened the door to lawlessness.
