The Supreme Court has reacted to the flurry of criticisms that has greeted some of its most recent decisions especially the decision affirming Senate President, Ahmed Lawan as the legitimate flagbearer for the Yobe East Senatorial election despite not participating in the primary for the position.
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In a statement made available to TheNigeriaLawyer by the Supreme Court Director of Press and Information, Dr. Akande Aweneri Festus, the Supreme Court cautioned against peddling denigrating statements against the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court image maker particularly took a swipe at a Nigerian-American Professor, Farooq Adamu Kperogi who viciously lampooned the Supreme Court in an article published earlier this week.
The statement read in part: “In an ineptly scripted toxic article, one Farooq Adamu Kperogi, who described himself as a Nigerian-American Professor, decided to plunge into an abysmal pit of irredeemable ignorance by venting convoluted anger on Supreme Court Justices with a view to pleasing his paymasters. We have made it abundantly clear at different occasions that Judicial Officers are neither political office holders nor politicians that should be dressed in such robes.”
The statement continued, “Our silence must not be mistaken for weakness or cowardice. Certainly, every Nigerian citizen has inalienable right to express his or her opinion without any encumbrance; but even in the course of expressing such fundamental right, we should be circumspect enough to observe the caution-gate of self-control in order not to infringe on another person’s right. Even in a state of emotional disequilibrium, we should be reasonable enough to make a good choice of decent words, as every word employed by the pen-happy Kperogi only succeeded in portraying the kind of vacuum that sign-posts all that he has as academic accomplishment.
I believe those who possess similar credentials with him are obviously ashamed of celebrating any form of affinity with such a character that has an odious reputation for being a serial verbal assailant over the years, as he sees nothing good in anything good. He has only succeeded in inflicting upon himself a mood of bellicose jingoism which does not represent a mark of honour for any discerning mind or academic, the world over.”
He urged the public to disabuse its mind of insinuations that the Supreme Court might have been bought over. He added that Courts don’t advertise or scout for cases for adjudication; but at the same time, we are duty-bound to adjudicate on all matters that come before us with a view to giving justice to whoever justice is due, irrespective of status. No Court in any clime is a Father Christmas; so, no one can get what he or she didn’t ask for. Similarly, all matters are thoroughly analysed and considered based on their merits and not the faces that appear in Court or sentiments that attempt to becloud the sense of reasoning.
“So, for anyone in his or her right frame of mind to insinuate that the Justices have been bought over by some unknown and unseen persons is, to say the least, a bizarre expression of ignorance, which definitely has no place in law or even in the realm of pedestrian reasoning.”
The statement also blamed political parties for their inability to manage their affairs which has resulted in their crises spilling to the courts for adjudication, and resulting in unnecessary public scrutiny of the Courts.
“If political parties conduct themselves well and orderly too, the Courts would definitely handle less cases and the political atmosphere will be much healthier than it is currently. We shall continuously do our best to discharge our constitutional responsibility to keep the country together and move the nation along the path of peace, progress and development. Attacks by groups, political parties or individuals under any guise will not deter us, rather it will boost our resolve to do more for the country. It is not only petty but equally very unreasonable for anyone to hurriedly link the Hon. CJN Ariwoola to his state of origin and tribe simply because of a particular judgment of the Court. The major problem of Nigeria has always been the undue emphasis of religion and ethnicity in all our dealings. As long as we continue along that path, progress will remain a mirage.”
“Most times, some people try as much as possible to disingenuously stand logic on its head to show their level of unimaginable dexterity. Those who have cultivated the unfashionable penchant of always attacking the Judiciary over every judgment or ruling given should better have a rethink and start channelling such robust energy into some ventures that are more developmental than destructive. We are not politicians and should not, by any stroke of imagination, be cast in that mould either. Nobody’s interest can ever supersede the interest of everybody. Nigeria is bigger than everyone of us. A word is enough for the wise” the statement concluded.
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