Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly says Nigerian democracy is now on crutches as all arms of government habitually defies court orders.
Apparently reacting to a petition by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)to the United Nations asking the world body to compel President Muhammadu Buhari to honour court orders, Sani in a tweet on his Twitter handle, said because everyone chooses which court order to obey and which not to, “
He railed at the political leadership of the country for disregarding the rule of law, as they cherry pick the law to obey.
“Oath of office to respect the constitution has become a Quaker Oats. Democracy on crutches,” he tweeted.
All arms of Government nowadays habitually defies court orders;The FG,NASS,Political parties,the Police,Security services,The Military & Governors;or they cherrypick the one to obey.Oath of office to respect the constitution has become a Quaker Oats.Democracy on crutches.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) May 13, 2018
SERAP had asked UN to compel the President to honour the country’s international obligations on protection of the independence and integrity of the judiciary.
In the petition addressed to Diego García-Sayán, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, SERAP said the “selective enforcement of court orders, if not urgently addressed, would ultimately put the rule of law in Nigeria under siege.”
Timothy Adewale, Deputy Director of SERAP in the petition dated 11 May 2018, lamented that, “persistent and apparently deliberate disobedience of court rulings by the Nigerian authorities is an affront to the supremacy of the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary”
He warned that the trend may lead to self-help, therefore undermining the authorities and the commitment to fight corruption, except the government act promptly.
Protecting judicial independence is an obligation to be guaranteed and not a privilege that the state may grant, he said.