By

Chinenye Chukwuma

Chief Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has called on Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to restore integrity to the judiciary, citing concerns over political compromises within the system. In his statement titled “The Time to End Judicial Rascality is Now,” George expressed hope that under the new CJN, the judiciary could regain the esteemed reputation it held from the 1950s to the 1980s.

George raised alarms about the rising instances of “judicial rascality,” particularly regarding conflicting rulings from courts of coordinate jurisdiction. He pointed out that public confidence in court judgments is waning, warning that this trend could lead to “judicial anarchy.”

He urged the CJN to convene a National Judicial Council (NJC) meeting to tackle these inconsistencies and restore faith in the judiciary. Emphasizing the significance of judicial independence for Nigeria’s development, George stressed that judges must withstand political pressure and remain impartial.

Highlighting the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, particularly the Fubara vs. Wike case, he noted that failure to address these issues could pose security risks for the nation.

George concluded by urging the CJN to take swift action to combat judicial rascality, warning that a loss of public trust in the judicial system could lead to chaos.