- Osigwe noted that the executive branch has no business directly providing the judiciary with their needs.
- He asked the judiciary to decline acts of “benevolence”, emphasising that they must not condone practices with potential hidden agendas.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president,
Afam Osigwe, has criticized state governors and executives for giving gifts to judges.
Osigwe made these comments on Thursday during his appearance on Politics HQ, a News Central programme.
There has been widespread criticism about the close relationship between judges and politicians, which is eroding trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Osigwe argued that the executive branch should not directly provide for the judiciary’s needs, as this undermines their autonomy.
Osigwe urged the judiciary to reject acts of “benevolence”, emphasizing that they must not condone practices with potential hidden agendas.
“In any situation where a governor gathers judges to display gifts, it is condemnable,” Osigwe said. “It is unconstitutional, demeaning, and erodes judicial independence.”
Osigwe stressed that executives should not provide gifts to the judiciary, and budgetary allocations should follow proper channels.
The NBA president also advocated for ending the notion of executives as “big brother” to the judiciary in determining their needs.
He emphasized that budgetary allocations should not be handed out like gifts, which is “humiliating” and “takes away from their independence.”
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