Trouble Looms As Trump Moves Against Corrupt Nigerian Judges
After sanctioning Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes for abusing his authority by engaging in a targeted and politically motivated witch hunt on Wednesday, American President Donald Trump threatened to sanction corrupt judges in Nigeria and across the globe in a similar manner.
Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, issued this threat on Wednesday, citing Mr Moraes, who was sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act for human rights abuses.
“@POTUS and @USTreasury have sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program for serious human rights abuses,” Mr Rubio said in a post on social media.
Warning judicial officials from Nigeria and other nations of the world, the U.S. Secretary of State said, “Let this be a warning to those who would trample on the fundamental rights of their countrymen—judicial robes cannot protect you.”
Magnitsky sanctions are both financial and travel bans imposed by governments on individuals guilty of gross human rights abuses. It was christened after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian tax lawyer who uncovered government corruption, but was jailed, tortured, and died in custody in 2009.
Mr Rubio’s warning that the U.S. will target corrupt judicial officials across the globe, including Nigeria, with Magnitsky sanctions comes after the U.S. Department of State slammed Mr Moraes with the sanctions.
“Today, the United States is sanctioning Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for serious human rights abuse, including arbitrary detention involving flagrant denials of fair trial guarantees and violations of the freedom of expression,” the U.S. Department of State said.
It added, “Moraes abused his authority by engaging in a targeted and politically motivated effort designed to silence political critics through the issuance of secret orders compelling online platforms, including U.S. social media companies, to ban the accounts of individuals for posting protected speech.”
According to the U.S., Mr Moraes further abused his position to authorise unjust pre-trial detentions and undermine freedom of expression.
Mr Moraes is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
