Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, Rev. Prof. Samuel Ike, has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to rise and position the judiciary as the interpreter of the law and the last hope of the aggrieved in Nigeria.

He also tasked Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to review the multiple taxes that are making life unbearable for residents of the state.

Bishop Ike stated this during his presidential charge at the second session of the 19th Synod of the diocese, at St. Paul’s Church, China Town, Enugu State, at the weekend.

He lamented that instead of the Supreme Court judgments bringing finality to disputes, the ambiguity in them leads to public confusion and a deepening of the very conflicts the court sought to resolve.

He therefore called for the Supreme Court to make its judgments more explicit and unambiguous, adding that for the judiciary to remain the last hope of the common man, the sanctity of its decisions must be preserved and easily enforced.

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kekere-Ekun, needs to arise and position the judiciary in its rightful place as the interpreter of the law and the last hope of the aggrieved and the common man in Nigeria.

“The recurring scenarios in which, following a Supreme Court judgment, the appellants and defendants give their own interpretations, leaving the masses confused, should stop.

“The judiciary should ensure that it is frank, plain, and simple in its use of language in delivering judgments. If need be, the certified true copy of judgments should be translated into the three major Nigerian languages,” Bishop Ike said.
Expressing worry about the level of taxation in Enugu State, the Bishop, who praised Governor Mbah for his ambitious efforts in enhancing infrastructure, security, healthcare, and education, stated that “these can only be meaningful when the people are alive to enjoy it.”

He lamented that the residents “are crying over multiple taxes,” adding that, “a recent report named Enugu State as the costliest state to live in Nigeria.”
“I am sure the governor has answers to these issues. The way to it is to review his tax system, which is daily making life miserable for the people and depriving them of the benefits of the dividends of his government,” he said.

On the theme of the synod: “living by every word of God,” Bishop Ike expressed optimism that the Synod provided a platform for a revival that could change the country for good.

He said the theme was about the faithful turning to Jesus for solutions to their challenges and in guidance from and unalloyed attention to the word of God.
According to him, “Jesus was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
“Therefore, in all points of our being tempted, Jesus knows what we are experiencing, and he is willing and able to help us in our struggles, if we turn to him for strength,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said that the taxes by the government were “minimal” and not targeted at “impoverishing or creating pain in the people.”

He said that the government would continue to deepen infrastructure development that would have a direct impact on the people and charged the residents to continue to support the Mbah administration.

Onyia commended the Anglican Church for their support, assuring that the government would always partner with them in its developmental strides.