A senior lawyer, Mrs Folake Solanke, says she is saddened by
incidences of corruption within the Nigerian judiciary.
Solanke, the first female a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN),
said solution must be urgently provided for the rot in the bar and
bench to protect the integrity of the judiciary.
She spoke in Ibadan on Thursday at a valedictory court session
in honour of a Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Modupe Fasanmi, who
is retiring voluntarily from service.
Solanke said she felt personally abused whenever judges and
lawyers were condemned because of charges of unethical
behaviour.
She said it was sad that the registries of courts were becoming
a cesspool of corruption with judicial officers increasingly being
seen as corrupt.
Solanke said the rising culture of lobbying and favouritism in
the judiciary were leading to fall in standard, deviation and
weakening of the judiciary because “it brings incompetent personnel
on board’’.
“It is wrong for the offenders to smear the reputation of many
who are innocent.
“Those offenders should turn a new leaf and pursue the path of
rectitude so as to restore the golden years of the administration
of justice in Nigeria.
“ The judiciary has no alternative than to defeat the monster of
corruption for Nigerians to trust the judiciary and have full
confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
“Where lies the honour when honourable judges are in the dock
for criminal trial?
“This describes the lamentable state of Nigeria’s legal
system.
“Not all judges and lawyer are corrupt and I pray that God will
continue to empower the judiciary and the bar to follow the path of
righteousness in the dispensation of justice’’ Solanke said.
She urged the retiring judge to continue to engage in
intellectual work outside of the court room, pointing out that
retirement should not mean that one had retired from living an
active life.
In her contribution, the President of the Court of Appeal,
Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, described Fasanmi as a hardworking and
reliable person.
Bulkachuwa said the retiring judge always divested herself of
fear, anger, hatred and other sentiments that could deter her from
doing justice without fear or favour in determining any matter
before her.
In her response, Fasanmi, said she was grateful for the
opportunities given her to serve as a judge.
She urged the bar and bench to maintain the cordial relationship
between them in moving the judiciary forward.
“I believe the word is a stage and there is time for
everything.
“There is time for entry as well as exit.
“ I have played my part and I believe it is time to bow out,’’
she said.
Fasanmi, who hails from Akure, was born on April 4, 1951, and
voluntarily retired at the age of 68.
The attorneys-general and commissioners for Justice in Ogun,
Ondo and Oyo states, lawyers, family and friends attended the
occasion.
NAN
A senior lawyer, Mrs Folake Solanke, says she is saddened by
incidences of corruption within the Nigerian judiciary.
Solanke, the first female a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN),
said solution must be urgently provided for the rot in the bar and
bench to protect the integrity of the judiciary.
She spoke in Ibadan on Thursday at a valedictory court session
in honour of a Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Modupe Fasanmi, who
is retiring voluntarily from service.
Solanke said she felt personally abused whenever judges and
lawyers were condemned because of charges of unethical
behaviour.
She said it was sad that the registries of courts were becoming
a cesspool of corruption with judicial officers increasingly being
seen as corrupt.
Solanke said the rising culture of lobbying and favouritism in
the judiciary were leading to fall in standard, deviation and
weakening of the judiciary because “it brings incompetent personnel
on board’’.
“It is wrong for the offenders to smear the reputation of many
who are innocent.
“Those offenders should turn a new leaf and pursue the path of
rectitude so as to restore the golden years of the administration
of justice in Nigeria.
“ The judiciary has no alternative than to defeat the monster of
corruption for Nigerians to trust the judiciary and have full
confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
“Where lies the honour when honourable judges are in the dock
for criminal trial?
“This describes the lamentable state of Nigeria’s legal
system.
“Not all judges and lawyer are corrupt and I pray that God will
continue to empower the judiciary and the bar to follow the path of
righteousness in the dispensation of justice’’ Solanke said.
She urged the retiring judge to continue to engage in
intellectual work outside of the court room, pointing out that
retirement should not mean that one had retired from living an
active life.
In her contribution, the President of the Court of Appeal,
Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, described Fasanmi as a hardworking and
reliable person.
Bulkachuwa said the retiring judge always divested herself of
fear, anger, hatred and other sentiments that could deter her from
doing justice without fear or favour in determining any matter
before her.
In her response, Fasanmi, said she was grateful for the
opportunities given her to serve as a judge.
She urged the bar and bench to maintain the cordial relationship
between them in moving the judiciary forward.
“I believe the word is a stage and there is time for
everything.
“There is time for entry as well as exit.
“ I have played my part and I believe it is time to bow out,’’
she said.
Fasanmi, who hails from Akure, was born on April 4, 1951, and
voluntarily retired at the age of 68.
The attorneys-general and commissioners for Justice in Ogun,
Ondo and Oyo states, lawyers, family and friends attended the
occasion.
NAN
Read more https://nairalaw.com/im-heart-broken-by-incidents-of-corruption-in-judiciary-solanke-san/