Bode George Calls on NJC to Defend Judicial Independence
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has addressed an open letter to the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) expressing grave concerns about a recent judgment linked to the party’s leadership crisis.
In the letter, George argues that the ruling, which dismissed a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), was premature and failed to address the substantive constitutional questions raised by the applicants.
The court not only dismissed the case as a waste of judicial time but also awarded ₦140 million in costs against the PDP Board of Trustees and an additional ₦10 million against its counsel. George contends that the judgment ignored existing decisions of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Federal High Court that supported the applicants’ position.
Judicial Precedent and the Rule of Law
He emphasised that Nigeria’s constitutional order rests on the hierarchy of courts and the binding authority of judicial precedent. According to George, judgments delivered by competent courts must be obeyed unless set aside by a superior court, and no administrative authority should disregard a valid ruling simply because it disagrees with the outcome.
The PDP chieftain warned that the controversy extends beyond internal party politics, touching on broader issues of adherence to court judgments, constitutional governance and the rule of law. He criticised the reported expulsion of senior party members by the faction associated with Minister Nyesom Wike, describing it as morally and ethically untenable.
NJC’s Constitutional Duty
George reminded the NJC of its constitutional mandate under Paragraph 21 of Part I of the Third Schedule to the Constitution to safeguard the independence, integrity, discipline and ethical standards of the Bench. He stressed that public confidence in the judiciary is essential for its legitimacy and warned that perceptions of political influence could erode that trust.
He concluded by urging the NJC to act with courage, impartiality and firmness to defend judicial ethics and accountability, asserting that the integrity of the judiciary is the lifeblood of the Nigerian Republic and must not be compromised.
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