Disregard for Rule of Law Bane of Nigeria’s Progress, Says Lawyer

Adibe Emenyonu

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Chairman, Midwest Bar Forum, Mr. George Ugbokwe, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), weekend, declared that interference and disregard for the rule of law has continue to posed a grave danger to the progress and development of the country.
Igbokwe spoke on the sideline of the maiden edition of Midwest Bar Forum quarterly meeting held at the Benin Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin City, capital of Edo State.
He pointed out that if Nigeria is desirous of success like other nations of the world, absolute independence of the Judiciary must be guaranteed and devoid of any incumbrances from the executive and the legislature.
Appealing to professional colleagues, who conspired in blackmailing the judiciary to desist forthwith, Igbokwe stressed that any attempt to hoodwinked the judiciary would spell doom for the country.
 “The judiciary and the courts are the only hope of the common man in Nigeria. If Nigeria must succeed, judiciary must be strengthened.”
“What is holding America today is their obedience to the rule of law.
“If our colleagues who conspired in blackmailing the Judiciary can desist from that and play their role as lawyers and leave the judiciary to take a decision Nigeria will be better. But any attempts to
hoodwink the Judiciary will spell doom for Nigeria.
“I will advise my colleagues that we should subscribed as much as we can to help and sustain the efficacy as aspect of the Judiciary and their independence. We have to fight for their absolute independence, ” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Igbokwe admonished members seeking various elective positions to adhere to democratic tenets and avoid action that would drag the legal profession into ridicule.
According to him, “The generel election is around the corner and we have a golden opportunity to showcase the kind of democratic election and ideal transition to power that we want the politicians to imbibe.
“If we deviate and falter, we shall have no face or locus to admonish them if and when they start their normal gimmick that threatens democratic norms.”