*Says cause of corruption include mode of appointment of
judges, influence of election petitions and delay in administration
of justice
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and member
of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the Lekki
tollgate shootings by soldiers, has said that it is too early to
say what exactly happened at the toll gate incident.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
Adegboruwa, in an interview with the PUNCH newspaper, said the
panel is still listening to witnesses, admitting videos and
documents amongst others
“I think it is too early now to say exactly what happened at the
Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020. To the extent that the judicial
panel is still listening to the testimonies of witnesses, admitting
documents, videos and other materials as exhibits, we believe at
this stage that our job at the panel is still that of
investigation. We will leave no stone unturned in that process. And
this is why we have extended our investigations and summonses to
hospitals where people who claimed to have been shot or injured
were treated, to journalists who claimed to have covered the
events, to major security agencies such as the army, the police,
etc.” Adegboruwa said
The learned silk assured that the Panel will not succumb to
external pressure but will rather say the truth regardless of those
concerned.
He added that the Panel will try its best not to disappoint the
public, international community and the youths
He said, “So, at this stage, all that I can assure you is that
we will not succumb to any pressure to do things this way or that
way. We are determined to say it as it is, not just for the
#EndSARS petitions but also in other cases and petitions brought
before us. We are very mindful of the expectations of the general
public, the international community and especially the youth and we
will do our best not to disappoint them; the panel will bring out
the truth. Whether or not the truth will be acceptable to all
concerned, that will be left for posterity to determine.
“I am sure that you too have been following events at the
judicial panel through its televised sittings. There is nothing to
suggest any cover-up or yielding to pressure from any quarters. We
are totally independent. We meet to deliberate on issues as we deem
fit and we take decisions without any extraneous considerations.
So, I will not be far from the truth if I say that Nigerians and
the international community should expect us to do the
needful.”
On the recent assertion by the ICPC that Nigerian judges got
N9.4bn in bribery from lawyers in the past three years, Adegboruwa
said the problem boils down to mode of appointments. Those who
lobbied for the position are more likely to be corrupt
He said, “I recently wrote a piece titled Transactional Justice,
in which I noted that increasingly and alarmingly, the belief that
justice is for sale is gaining ground among Nigerians. Corruption
in any society, not just amongst judges, is man-made and it is man
himself that can tackle it. For judges, the first issue is the mode
of appointment. Once you have to lobby for any appointment, it must
carry its own baggage, as he who pays the piper must surely dictate
the tune of the music.”
Another reason, according to the learned silk, is the corruptive
influence of election petitions on the performance of the judiciary
generally.
He said politicians are always desperate to secure victory and
because they do everything to get it, the corruption that aid them
influences other cases including land and commercial cases
Adegboruwa further attributed cause of corruption to delay in
administration of justice. It makes litigants do everything to make
sure their cases are being heard.
He said, “Another factor is the corruptive influence of election
petitions on the performance of the judiciary generally. It has,
more or less, destroyed the judiciary, to the extent that
politicians are so desperate that they will do just anything to
secure victory over their opponents. And once the door of
corruption is opened through election petitions, you cannot close
it when it comes to land matters or commercial cases.
“The delay in the administration of justice is also part of the
corruption. Once the number of cases pending in the courts far
outweigh the capacity of judges available, then this leads to
desperation, as litigants have to battle for the spaces available
to have their cases heard. If the Supreme Court is presently
hearing appeals of 2010, in year 2021, then you can imagine where
we are in the administration of justice in Nigeria. So, corruption
in the judiciary is caused by so many factors and it is best dealt
with holistically.”
*Says cause of corruption include mode of appointment of
judges, influence of election petitions and delay in administration
of justice
Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and member
of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the Lekki
tollgate shootings by soldiers, has said that it is too early to
say what exactly happened at the toll gate incident.
Adegboruwa, in an interview with the PUNCH newspaper, said the
panel is still listening to witnesses, admitting videos and
documents amongst others
“I think it is too early now to say exactly what happened at the
Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020. To the extent that the judicial
panel is still listening to the testimonies of witnesses, admitting
documents, videos and other materials as exhibits, we believe at
this stage that our job at the panel is still that of
investigation. We will leave no stone unturned in that process. And
this is why we have extended our investigations and summonses to
hospitals where people who claimed to have been shot or injured
were treated, to journalists who claimed to have covered the
events, to major security agencies such as the army, the police,
etc.” Adegboruwa said
The learned silk assured that the Panel will not succumb to
external pressure but will rather say the truth regardless of those
concerned.
He added that the Panel will try its best not to disappoint the
public, international community and the youths
He said, “So, at this stage, all that I can assure you is that
we will not succumb to any pressure to do things this way or that
way. We are determined to say it as it is, not just for the
#EndSARS petitions but also in other cases and petitions brought
before us. We are very mindful of the expectations of the general
public, the international community and especially the youth and we
will do our best not to disappoint them; the panel will bring out
the truth. Whether or not the truth will be acceptable to all
concerned, that will be left for posterity to determine.
“I am sure that you too have been following events at the
judicial panel through its televised sittings. There is nothing to
suggest any cover-up or yielding to pressure from any quarters. We
are totally independent. We meet to deliberate on issues as we deem
fit and we take decisions without any extraneous considerations.
So, I will not be far from the truth if I say that Nigerians and
the international community should expect us to do the
needful.”
On the recent assertion by the ICPC that Nigerian judges got
N9.4bn in bribery from lawyers in the past three years, Adegboruwa
said the problem boils down to mode of appointments. Those who
lobbied for the position are more likely to be corrupt
He said, “I recently wrote a piece titled Transactional Justice,
in which I noted that increasingly and alarmingly, the belief that
justice is for sale is gaining ground among Nigerians. Corruption
in any society, not just amongst judges, is man-made and it is man
himself that can tackle it. For judges, the first issue is the mode
of appointment. Once you have to lobby for any appointment, it must
carry its own baggage, as he who pays the piper must surely dictate
the tune of the music.”
Another reason, according to the learned silk, is the corruptive
influence of election petitions on the performance of the judiciary
generally.
He said politicians are always desperate to secure victory and
because they do everything to get it, the corruption that aid them
influences other cases including land and commercial cases
Adegboruwa further attributed cause of corruption to delay in
administration of justice. It makes litigants do everything to make
sure their cases are being heard.
He said, “Another factor is the corruptive influence of election
petitions on the performance of the judiciary generally. It has,
more or less, destroyed the judiciary, to the extent that
politicians are so desperate that they will do just anything to
secure victory over their opponents. And once the door of
corruption is opened through election petitions, you cannot close
it when it comes to land matters or commercial cases.
“The delay in the administration of justice is also part of the
corruption. Once the number of cases pending in the courts far
outweigh the capacity of judges available, then this leads to
desperation, as litigants have to battle for the spaces available
to have their cases heard. If the Supreme Court is presently
hearing appeals of 2010, in year 2021, then you can imagine where
we are in the administration of justice in Nigeria. So, corruption
in the judiciary is caused by so many factors and it is best dealt
with holistically.”