Rivers Crisis: Coalition of Lawyers Warns APC, Former Lawmakers Against Ridiculing Judiciary
The Coalition of Lawyers Against Injustice, a group of concerned legal professionals, has issued a stern warning to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former lawmakers of the Rivers State Assembly following a controversial court ruling. The group condemned the recent High Court decision that overturned a previous ruling which had dismissed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers for defecting to the APC.
The Coalition criticized this action as a blatant disregard for judicial integrity and the rule of law. According to the group’s president, Moses Okino, it is a fundamental legal principle that a lower court cannot review or overturn the decision of another court of the same level. He emphasized that this principle is being recklessly ignored by the APC in Rivers State, thereby undermining the credibility of the judiciary.
“We are appalled by the APC’s blatant disregard for the judicial process and their resort to self-help, which can only be described as a wicked assault on the very fabric of our legal system,” Okino stated. He expressed concerns that such behavior could erode public trust in the judiciary and damage Nigeria’s reputation internationally.
The Coalition also highlighted serious allegations of bribery and questions about the judge’s jurisdiction in the case, calling for thorough investigations into these claims. They urged the APC and the former lawmakers to respect the judiciary’s sanctity and cease actions that could destabilize the legal system.
In their statement, the lawyers implored the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Nigerian Bar Association, and all relevant stakeholders to defend the judiciary’s integrity against what they termed an “affront to our legal system.” They stressed the importance of allowing courts to operate without intimidation or manipulation, and insisted that the rule of law must be upheld.
“We will not stand idly by while our democracy is imperiled by the APC’s antics,” Okino declared. The Coalition pledged to take all necessary steps to ensure that their demands for judicial respect and the rule of law are met.
