A former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has berated the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for saying that the Judiciary will work with the Presidential Task Force for COVID-19 in fighting the deadly Coronavirus war.

In his press statement titled “Malami Rolls Out Plans for Post COVID-19 Justice System” Malami said, “We expect the judiciary to keep supporting the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 and consider how best to start opening up as soon as possible and to start tackling the backlog of cases. We will start by seeing how much cases can be handled online or without a face-to-face interaction leveraging on the use of technology.

“As such the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, with support of relevant stakeholders.

Reacting to the minister’s comments, Prof. Chidi Anslem Odinkalu in his statement said, “Abubakar Malami is Attorney-General, not (yet) Chief Justice. What happens in the courts is outside his brief. That is the business of the Chief Justice, NJC and the Chiefs of the respective court systems.

He is in egregious error at best when he says “the judiciary should support the Presidential Task Force….” It is not the business of the judiciary to “support” anyone or task force. The judiciary holds the balance even in these times. The examples globally should make that clear:

“In Malawi, the courts quarantined a lockdown without palliatives

“In Zimbabwe, the courts forced govt to guarantee water in the major municipalities as a pre-condition for lockdown and to refrain from harassing journalists covering the lockdown.

“In Germany, the Constitutional Court has upheld the right to protest even amidst a pandemic

“In Wisconsin, the Supreme Court refused to defer an election

“In Kenya, the Court compelled the govt to recognise lawyers as essential workers.”

All these countries have measures against the pandemic. The courts were not supporting them. Rather, they were running interference, holding the balance on behalf of constitutional govt. That is how it has to be.

“I just don’t get what it is about these folks that makes them feel the need to have every institution – including those that they may need one day – suborned.

“It’s unfortunate that our systems are under the control of people who can’t be bothered about what they exist for. Malami just doesn’t seem to get it or doesn’t care,” Prof. Odinkalu concluded.

"Exciting news! TheNigeriaLawyer is now on WhatsApp Channels 🚀 Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest legal insights!" Click here! ....................................................................................................................... Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and other digital content on this website, in whole or in part, without express and written permission from TheNigeriaLawyer, is strictly prohibited _________________________________________________________________
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 35,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation _________________________________________________________________

NIALS' Compendia Series: Your One-Stop Solution For Navigating Nigerian Laws (2004-2023)

Email: info@nials.edu.ng, tugomak@yahoo.co.uk, Contact: For Inquiry and information, kindly contact, NIALS Director of Marketing: +2348074128732, +2348100363602.