Fight Against Corruption In The Judiciary
(FIACIJ) has launched a new project known as Project I.
D.E.N.I.T.F.Y . In this interview The Coordinator , Bayo
Akinlade, Esq., gave an insight on how this project
identify is designed to aid in combating corruption in judiciary.
His excerpt
Tell us how you came about the project
“I.D.E.N.T.I.F.Y “
I.D.E.N.T.I.F.Y came to me as an idea. First it was just
the word IDENTIFY that came to mind, then I started building a
project idea around that word IDENTIFY from the feedback I was
getting from various whatsapp, facebook platforms and from
direct interactions with people during and after the “Give No
Bribe” Initiative.
So what is this project all about?
Basically from the month of April, we are challenging Lawyers
and Litigants to:
- IDENTIFY the ROOT CAUSE of Corrupt Practices in our Courts
- IDENTIFY the principal players in the circle of corrupt
practices in our Court - IDENTIFY the laws, policies, rules of courts and other
legislation, customs and traditions/ practices that promote corrupt
practices in our courts - IDENTIFY possible Solutions to combat corrupt practices in our
Courts
For how long will this project go on and what will
it entail:
This project will last for the remainder of the year. We have
however broken our engagement timetable around the acronym
I.D.E.N.T.I.F.Y so that every month we will look at a specific
letter in the word ‘I.D.E.N.T.I.F.Y’ and engage accordingly:
I = INVESTIGATE: In the month of April
our focus will be to investigate corrupt elements within our
Judiciary. This process will run the course of the rest of the year
but in April, we will be taking a closer look into WHY corruption
has eaten so deep. We will be asking lots of questions about how
the Courts operates, if there is no paper for the registrars to
work with, we will be asking WHY and we will investigate the Root
Cause of it
D = DEVELOP STRATEGIES: In the month of
May, while we continue to investigate, we will begin the exercise
of developing strategies for engaging the problem of Corruption
holistically. Corruption is first in our hearts and minds before it
manifests physically so it takes a willing heart and an open,
reformed mind to engage it. May is the month of brainstorming ideas
to tackle corruption while doing all we can to resist
E = ENGAGE: In June, we will ENGAGE with the
major players i.e. NBA, JUSUN and the Judiciary. The idea is to
bring them together to discuss ways of liberating our Judiciary, to
come up with programs, ideas and events that will promote a corrupt
free Judiciary Space
T = TRAINING: In July; as a follow up on
engagement, we hope to organise trainings that will teach lawyers
how NOT TO GIVE A BRIBE AND HOW TO AVOID AND TACKLE EXTORTION. We
will plan trainings, talks and seminars for any group interested in
combating corruption in our courts. During the trainings, we will
be identifying and examining the laws, practices and behaviours
that cause corrupt practices with an attempt to tackle them.
I = INFORMATION DISSEMINATION: In October;
after the long vacation, we will be providing information about how
to interact with our Courts, steps to take when filing a process
etc. so that at no point in time will the lawyer or litigant be
oblivious of the process thereby liberating themselves from
elements within the Judiciary that capitalize on the user’s
ignorance to extort money
F = FINALIZE: In November, we will
collate all our work, summarize all our efforts, engage again with
stakeholders with a view of focusing on establishing an
institutional structure that will monitor the courts, lawyers and
litigants as they interact with the judiciary. The goal is to birth
a compliance department within the judiciary to ensure best
international practices.
Y = YOU: In December; the emphasis would be on
the individual as the key to ending CORRUPTION in the JUDICIARY
This sounds like a lot of work, how do you intend to
make this happen?
It is a lot of work but I am not alone in this. Many
individuals, groups, including the Judiciary itself are engaged in
this already. You will recall that the Chief Judge of Lagos already
has a mission and vision statement which her lordship is
implementing. This Project simply supports that effort. We have
several individuals and groups within the Legal Community who are
also interested in a Corrupt free Judiciary, we will be partnering
with them as we are currently partnering with the media and legal
blogging sites such as yours to educate and inform the general
public.
You mentioned working with the Chief Judge of Lagos
State, how does that impact on your independence as a watchdog
group and what about other States of the Federation; will this
project extend to other courts outside Lagos?
It is interesting you should ask about our relationship with the
Judiciary in Lagos State. Many people have commented on this to the
extent that we have been accused by some of being a tool in the
hands of the Judiciary and that we are not really independent. My
response is simple; when you have a common enemy, do you work
separately and in disunity or do you bring your strengths together
and work for the common purpose you have identified? USA, China and
Russia are all part of the UN does that have anything to do with
their independence? I worked with an organization called Advocates
International for about 7 years and our approach was “ HOW CAN WE
HELP YOU” I visited governments in over 30 Countries around the
world with that single phrase. We haven’t come to condemn the
Judges, Magistrates and Judicial Staff; we have simply come to say
“HOW CAN WE HELP DEFEAT CORRUPTION WITHIN THE JUDICIARY”
Concerning other States, we have many lawyers who have taken up
the challenge in their respective jurisdictions and I keep
encouraging anyone who can; to use what we are doing in Lagos and
duplicate it in their respective States. We are also exploring some
strategic partnership with the NBA National body in this
regard.
On a final note; we hear that you are contesting for
the Chairmanship position of your NBA Branch; how do you intend to
carrying on with FIACIJ if you do win?
Well, the operative word there is “IF” I win the elections.
First and foremost, I am a member of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA.
The FIACIJ idea started in my mind ‘as a member of my local
branch’. I usually tell people who ask me this same question: What
I am doing now with FIACIJ is the primary responsibility of every
Branch Chairman at least until corruption is completely eradicated.
This is because the welfare of our NBA members is seriously
affected by it, the rule of Law is marred by it, access to Justice
is seriously compromised by this corruption in our judiciary. Why
was NBA established? So how will FIACIJ be affected if elected
Chairman of my Branch? I think it can only grow stronger and my
branch and other branches across the nation will only benefit
more.
Any final words?
DONT BE A PART OF THE PROBLEM, STOP GIVING BRIBES TODAY. THE
SOLUTION IS IN YOUR HANDS
Fight Against Corruption In The Judiciary
(FIACIJ) has launched a new project known as Project I.
D.E.N.I.T.F.Y . In this interview The Coordinator , Bayo
Akinlade, Esq., gave an insight on how this project
identify is designed to aid in combating corruption in judiciary.
His excerpt
Tell us how you came about the project
“I.D.E.N.T.I.F.Y “
I.D.E.N.T.I.F.Y came to me as an idea. First it was just
the word IDENTIFY that came to mind, then I started building a
project idea around that word IDENTIFY from the feedback I was
getting from various whatsapp, facebook platforms and from
direct interactions with people during and after the “Give No
Bribe” Initiative.
So what is this project all about?
Basically from the month of April, we are challenging Lawyers
and Litigants to:
- IDENTIFY the ROOT CAUSE of Corrupt Practices in our Courts
- IDENTIFY the principal players in the circle of corrupt
practices in our Court - IDENTIFY the laws, policies, rules of courts and other
legislation, customs and traditions/ practices that promote corrupt
practices in our courts - IDENTIFY possible Solutions to combat corrupt practices in our
Courts
For how long will this project go on and what will
it entail:
This project will last for the remainder of the year. We have
however broken our engagement timetable around the acronym
I.D.E.N.T.I.F.Y so that every month we will look at a specific
letter in the word ‘I.D.E.N.T.I.F.Y’ and engage accordingly:
I = INVESTIGATE: In the month of April
our focus will be to investigate corrupt elements within our
Judiciary. This process will run the course of the rest of the year
but in April, we will be taking a closer look into WHY corruption
has eaten so deep. We will be asking lots of questions about how
the Courts operates, if there is no paper for the registrars to
work with, we will be asking WHY and we will investigate the Root
Cause of it
D = DEVELOP STRATEGIES: In the month of
May, while we continue to investigate, we will begin the exercise
of developing strategies for engaging the problem of Corruption
holistically. Corruption is first in our hearts and minds before it
manifests physically so it takes a willing heart and an open,
reformed mind to engage it. May is the month of brainstorming ideas
to tackle corruption while doing all we can to resist
E = ENGAGE: In June, we will ENGAGE with the
major players i.e. NBA, JUSUN and the Judiciary. The idea is to
bring them together to discuss ways of liberating our Judiciary, to
come up with programs, ideas and events that will promote a corrupt
free Judiciary Space
T = TRAINING: In July; as a follow up on
engagement, we hope to organise trainings that will teach lawyers
how NOT TO GIVE A BRIBE AND HOW TO AVOID AND TACKLE EXTORTION. We
will plan trainings, talks and seminars for any group interested in
combating corruption in our courts. During the trainings, we will
be identifying and examining the laws, practices and behaviours
that cause corrupt practices with an attempt to tackle them.
I = INFORMATION DISSEMINATION: In October;
after the long vacation, we will be providing information about how
to interact with our Courts, steps to take when filing a process
etc. so that at no point in time will the lawyer or litigant be
oblivious of the process thereby liberating themselves from
elements within the Judiciary that capitalize on the user’s
ignorance to extort money
F = FINALIZE: In November, we will
collate all our work, summarize all our efforts, engage again with
stakeholders with a view of focusing on establishing an
institutional structure that will monitor the courts, lawyers and
litigants as they interact with the judiciary. The goal is to birth
a compliance department within the judiciary to ensure best
international practices.
Y = YOU: In December; the emphasis would be on
the individual as the key to ending CORRUPTION in the JUDICIARY
This sounds like a lot of work, how do you intend to
make this happen?
It is a lot of work but I am not alone in this. Many
individuals, groups, including the Judiciary itself are engaged in
this already. You will recall that the Chief Judge of Lagos already
has a mission and vision statement which her lordship is
implementing. This Project simply supports that effort. We have
several individuals and groups within the Legal Community who are
also interested in a Corrupt free Judiciary, we will be partnering
with them as we are currently partnering with the media and legal
blogging sites such as yours to educate and inform the general
public.
You mentioned working with the Chief Judge of Lagos
State, how does that impact on your independence as a watchdog
group and what about other States of the Federation; will this
project extend to other courts outside Lagos?
It is interesting you should ask about our relationship with the
Judiciary in Lagos State. Many people have commented on this to the
extent that we have been accused by some of being a tool in the
hands of the Judiciary and that we are not really independent. My
response is simple; when you have a common enemy, do you work
separately and in disunity or do you bring your strengths together
and work for the common purpose you have identified? USA, China and
Russia are all part of the UN does that have anything to do with
their independence? I worked with an organization called Advocates
International for about 7 years and our approach was “ HOW CAN WE
HELP YOU” I visited governments in over 30 Countries around the
world with that single phrase. We haven’t come to condemn the
Judges, Magistrates and Judicial Staff; we have simply come to say
“HOW CAN WE HELP DEFEAT CORRUPTION WITHIN THE JUDICIARY”
Concerning other States, we have many lawyers who have taken up
the challenge in their respective jurisdictions and I keep
encouraging anyone who can; to use what we are doing in Lagos and
duplicate it in their respective States. We are also exploring some
strategic partnership with the NBA National body in this
regard.
On a final note; we hear that you are contesting for
the Chairmanship position of your NBA Branch; how do you intend to
carrying on with FIACIJ if you do win?
Well, the operative word there is “IF” I win the elections.
First and foremost, I am a member of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA.
The FIACIJ idea started in my mind ‘as a member of my local
branch’. I usually tell people who ask me this same question: What
I am doing now with FIACIJ is the primary responsibility of every
Branch Chairman at least until corruption is completely eradicated.
This is because the welfare of our NBA members is seriously
affected by it, the rule of Law is marred by it, access to Justice
is seriously compromised by this corruption in our judiciary. Why
was NBA established? So how will FIACIJ be affected if elected
Chairman of my Branch? I think it can only grow stronger and my
branch and other branches across the nation will only benefit
more.
Any final words?
DONT BE A PART OF THE PROBLEM, STOP GIVING BRIBES TODAY. THE
SOLUTION IS IN YOUR HANDS
Read more https://nairalaw.com/project-identify-we-are-not-tools-in-the-hands-of-the-judiciary-fiacij/