Cyprain Edward-Ekpo, registrar of the International Institute for Humanitarian and Environmental Law, has accused the Buhari administration of intimidating the judiciary.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt on Thursday, he called on the international community, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and all Nigerians to stand up to the “pressing issue bedeviling the country”.
Edward-Ekpo said by suspending Walter Onnoghen as chief justice of Nigeria, the president thwarted the the supremacy of the judiciary.
“It is unfortunate that we have a country of docile people. This kind of thing cannot happen in any developed country,” he said.
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“Such a president would have been impeached. If the president can wake anytime, any day and breach constitutional procedures without recourse to law is very sad.
“Since the assumption of office by President Muhammadu Buhari, court orders and judgments are not being complied with.
“There are well over 200 judgements we have in our disposal chronicled by The International Institute for Humanitarian Law in Nigeria ranging from the High Court to the Supreme Court, that have not been complied with.
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“There is no reasonable investor that can invest in a country that do not obey court orders because your investment can to be guaranteed.”
He said a judiciary that is not free from intimidation is compromised and cannot make independent decisions but would only incubate the canker-worm of corruption in the country.
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