An independent judicial panel has criticised the Supreme Court’s handling of legal disputes in Rivers State, questioning its approach to unresolved issues in the political crisis.
The 11-member Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP), led by retired Court of Appeal Justice Mojeed Owoade, expressed concerns on Friday, March 14, following its inaugural meeting in Abuja.
It argued that the apex court’s judgment left ambiguity regarding the alleged defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The judgment of the Supreme Court in the consolidated appeals leaves a gap as to whether the issue of the alleged defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is still alive or has been settled,” the panel stated.
“This is because the court made comments on the issue of defection without actually addressing it.”
It noted that while the Supreme Court had no evidence before it at the time to confirm whether the lawmakers had indeed defected, it should have refrained from making remarks on the matter since cases related to it were still in court.
However, the panel ruled out any possibility of revisiting the case. “As far as the case is concerned, the Supreme Court has become functus officio in the matter,” it said.
The panel also warned that complex and lengthy court judgments erode public trust. “Complex and lengthy judgments of courts defy easy comprehension and therefore undermine public trust,” it stated, urging judicial officers to uphold their oath of office at all times.
Beyond the Rivers crisis, the panel called on politicians to refrain from exerting undue influence on the judiciary and to resolve disputes in the best interest of their constituents. It also urged all levels of government to respect court orders and uphold citizens’ rights in a democracy.
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It decried the Federal Government’s failure to comply with a ruling by the ECOWAS Court, which awarded damages to victims of the October 2020 EndSARS protests.
“IJAP recommends that the Federal Government of Nigeria obey orders not only of our domestic courts but also those of international courts, in line with its obligations under various treaties,” it said.
It called for stronger civic engagement and a more assertive media in holding the judiciary accountable. “Citizens should show more interest and get involved in activities that hold the judiciary and other government agencies accountable,” it added.
“The media should be more courageous, factual, and non-partisan in investigating and reporting the role of the judiciary in our democracy.”
Members of the panel include retired Justices Chinwe Iyizoba and Oludoton Adefope-Okojie, alongside legal and civil society experts such as Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, Prof. Jummai Audi, Mac Imoni Amarere, Sechap A. Tsokwa, Andrew Mamedu, Judith Gbagidi, Funmi Olukeye, and Celestine Okwudil.
The panel emerged as part of a broader initiative by ActionAid Nigeria and the Citizens’ Led Engagement on Judicial Accountability in Post-Election Justice Delivery in Nigeria (CLEAP-Justice), a project launched in July 2023.
Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid, said the initiative had grown to support broader judicial accountability beyond electoral matters.