Judge calls for independent judiciary

A Lagos High Court judge, Morenike Obadina has said that now is the time to make the financial autonomy of the judiciary a reality.

She said it is very imperative because  judiciary is not subservient to other arm of government.

Obadina made the call at the memorial lecture of Justice Adetunji Adefarasin organised by the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) held at Igbosere High Court foyer.

She said in other to make judiciary independent, the financial autonomy should be a reality. “Heads of court should not have to go cap in hand to the executive to implement their budget. The judiciary is the third arm of government, it is equal and not subservient to the other arms,” she said.

She further stated that the domineering role of one arm over the other arms of government will engender the system and generate conflict.

While delivering lecture on the theme: ‘Conflict in the Arms of Government, the Role of the Bar and Bench in the Dispensation of Justice’, she said conflicts arises from time to time between the arms of government as they engage in the task of nation building.

According to her, as the country marches to elect its leaders,  politicians sometimes resort to all sorts of schemes to outwit one another even if it means destroying the institutions of government.

She admonished that legislative arm should minimise personal interest in politics in the overall interest of the nation and partner with the executive to deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians, who are yearning for development.

Also Wemimo Ogunde (SAN) called for restoration of judiciary’s glory and charged the bar and the bench on self assurance.

“We need to do all we can to prevent gossips and untrue stories been peddled about the judiciary,” he said.

Also, Pastor Dele Adesina (SAN) said: “The country is fast descending into a society of lawlessness. If we can only hold on to the constitution and the bench insisting that the right things must be done, then the problem of judiciary would be things of the past.”

Earlier, CLASFON through Prince Okey-Joe Onuakalusi said dispensation of justice is a collective duty of the members of the bar and bench.