Whether Governor Oshiomole and his political followers accept it or not, they are now better informed that Edo State is not anybody’s property. While all these political manoveurings are ongoing, the Edo state judiciary is expected to be neutral and above board. But that seems not to be the case now. I must confess that most of the Edo people at home and abroad are becoming very concerned, with the inexcusable exercise in recklessness ..of the Edo State judiciary. The Edo State Chief Judge and the entire judiciary are expected to be above politics.It is therefore assumed, that whatever they do, will be in accordance with their training as lawyers and in keeping with the higher ideals of justice. I am therefore constrained to draw the attention of the Edo State Chief Judge to the conversation that took place between late Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, the first Military Governor of Western Nigeria and the then Western Nigerian Chief Judge before the crisis that engulfed the entire country in 1966 became unmanageable. That is, if the Edo State Chief Judge was too young then, to know what happened. Professor Wole Soyinka in a conversation with Colonel Fajuyi asked: “How do you find the Western courts of justice, generally”. Col. Fajuyi replied, “Subverted, no one believes in the courts any more”. Professor Soyinka went further to paint this picture. He stops by a huge Victorian escritoire in a corner, relic of the ponderous tastes of former colonial governors, pulls up the veiled lid and takes out a service revolver. He toys with the gun. Fajuyi now stressed, “You know, he was here, sitting just where you are, in that very chair. I sent for him. I was very anxious to meet the man, who was responsible for all the chaos in the West”. The Colonel continues, “When people no longer believe that they can obtain justice in the courts then they must take the law in their hands. So, I take the view that the Chief Justice is personally responsible for all the death and destruction which took place here. The day he deliberately adjourned those election petitions then came back to announce that the cases had been over-taken by events, he became responsible for the mass murder, arson, rape, the whole lot… Anyway, I sent for him. When he came, I knew that my simple judgment was right. I said to him, tell me exactly what happened that day in court. I want you to give me your own version. You know, he the Chief Judge began to tremble. He was shaking so much that I thought he was going to fall from the chair. I asked him, what’s the matter? I said, are you afraid of me? I waited and waited, but the man couldn’t speak”. Please see the book entitled “The Man Died” pages 157 and 158. Is this not exactly the drama playing itself out in Edo State 48 years after this first incidence? The only difference today, is the fact, that the Edo State Chief Judge has no governor to question him, over the recklessness the State judiciary is presently involved in. If I may ask what is in public office, that people cannot just hold their own. So far, the Edo State judiciary is aiding and fuelling the crisis in the State with the order paper and counter orders that the state law makers are all laying claims to, in prolonging this crisis. Whatever happens in Edo state today, history will never be on the side of the state judiciary. Hence, my appeal to the State Judiciary, not only to retrace their steps, but re-examine their present position. A word is enough for the wise. Mr. Omonhinmin is a Lagos based Media Consultant.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 05:32:17 +0000
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