Constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has described Nigeria as practising “judocracy” rather than democracy.
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Speaking during a pre-convocation lecture at the 9th convocation ceremony of Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, Ozekhome blamed the judiciary for what he called the “bastardisation of democracy” in the country.
Delivering a lecture titled “The Judiciary as the Final Arbiter of Electoral Outcomes: Aberrations and Judgments Without Justice,” Ozekhome defined “judocracy,” a term he coined, as “a system where Presidents, Governors, Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, State Assembly Members, Local Government Chairmen, and Councillors are conceived, incubated, and birthed in the hallowed chambers of our courts.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria lamented that instead of safeguarding democracy, the judiciary has become an accomplice in its distortion.
“The judiciary is displacing the real will of the people as expressed through the ballot. That’s the situation in Nigeria,” he said.
Ozekhome emphasized the urgent need for a robust, independent judiciary free from external interference by either the executive or legislature. He described the judiciary as the cornerstone of democracy, a guardian of fundamental rights, and an upholder of the rule of law.
“Judges must resist corruption under any circumstance. To curb this, the government must institutionalize measures such as better remuneration, modern equipment, and adequate housing for judges,” he stated.
He also highlighted the dual perception of the judiciary’s involvement in electoral matters.
“Advocates of judicial oversight argue that courts rectify injustices and uphold the sanctity of the vote. On the other hand, critics warn that judicial overreach may transform the judiciary into a kingmaker, destabilizing governance and tipping the scales of democracy.”
In her address, Vice Chancellor Mrs. Cele Njoku highlighted the institution’s academic progress, noting that all its programs currently enjoy accreditation by regulatory bodies. She also announced a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sacred Heart University in the United States and an existing partnership with Russian Friendship University for exchange programs and technology transfer.
Mrs. Njoku urged graduates to be good ambassadors of the university and contribute solutions to societal challenges.
In his remarks, the Chancellor reminded the graduands to view their degrees as tools of empowerment, not just certificates of completion.
The Pro-Chancellor, Professor Augustine Uwakwe, stressed that education goes beyond career preparation, calling it a key to unlocking opportunities and making meaningful contributions to society.
A total of 190 students graduated, with 16 earning First Class, 86 Second Class Upper, 86 Second Class Lower, and one Third Class.
Master Ombeh Tarelayefa Clinton, the overall best graduand with a CGPA of 4.81, received N1 million from the university’s founder, Professor Greg Ibe, alongside several other prizes.
The Faculty of Law also saw seven First Class graduates, including the overall best, who were presented with multiple cash awards.
Former Minister for Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, received an honorary doctorate degree, while Professor Ogechi Anyaehie was conferred the title of Professor Emeritus.
In his remarks, Nnaji praised the university for its investments in technology, science, and entrepreneurship. He encouraged graduates to be innovative and become job creators rather than job seekers.
Ozekhome, alongside Nnaji and Orji Nwafor Orizu, announced various endowments to reward outstanding students of the university in perpetuity.
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