The court from time in memorial has been the
last resort for the rich and common men in the society, but in the last few
years people no longer believe in the judiciary because of the way and manners
their cases are being handled, some will rather watch being cheated than to go
to court and the reason is not farfetched its simply because of the lengthy
manner at which matters are being handled and a times injustice. Judiciary
needs to improve on these.
Irrespective of these problems facing the
judicial system i still believe the court or relevant law enforcement authority
is still the appropriate authorities that can put an end to injustice and
proffer solution where need arise.
The level at which Nigerians especially the
common men on the streets take law into their own hands is so alarming these
days, the manner at which they niche every suspect on the street is increasing
by the day forgetting that the power to pronounce judgement or condemn anyone
to death is not vested on anyone, therefore JUNGLE JUSTICE must come to an end.
What is recognised as concept of Justice World
over is not by the numbers of criminals or law breakers jailed or executed but
no one should suffer from what he or she did not do, so why these killings on
our streets, innocents souls are put to an end for merely suspecting them as
ritualists, thieves (ALUU FOUR) so why do we have the police, the courts, the
soldiers when need arise, civil defence officers to mention a few, the most
annoying of it all is that most of these killings on the street are based on
malice and false allegations, poverty, frustration, unemployment.
In the word of Late Justice Oputa JSC,’ the
establishment of a court system is a great milestone in human journey, we are
reminded how in a state of savagery and jungle justice, all men were arm and
law unto themselves. Development and civilization means that courts were
established and men dropped that weapon and brought their cases to court’
No matter how it sounds two wrongs cannot make
a right and no matter what crime anyone has committed it is important that the
person is given fair hearing Section
36(1)CFRN which provides that in determination of his civil rights and
obligations, including any question or determination by or against any
government or authority, a person shall be entitled to fair hearing within a
reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted
in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality. The other party
must be heard or else it is injustice. SECTION
36(5) of the CFRN further states
that every person who is charged with criminal offense shall be presumed
innocent until he is proved guilty, and to be pronounced guilty it must be by a
court of competent jurisdiction or tribunal and until this is done they remain
innocent and can rightly presumed that all those innocently killed through
execution of jungle justice remain innocent.
How then do these people that contravene the
provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is our
number one law, who engage in killings on our streets. The law is no respecter
of anyone and where anyone is caught beating or sets a suspect ablaze, such
person shall be treated as committing capital offence i.e. murder, manslaughter
etc and a judgement relating thereof shall be pronounce on the person, so I
hereby appeal to the general public to stay clear street beating, burning of
humans alive as this can also cost us our lives (death sentence or life imprisonment)
nor stand and watch another human being killed based on mere suspicion rather
hand them over to an appropriate authority.
John Maxwell said ‘everything begins and ends
with leadership’ leaders in these sense cuts across all areas our leaders
should lead by good examples, by making the rule of law prevail and justice be
achieved irrespective of who is facing the law by being responsive and
responsible so that the court ,police remains the trusted resort.
Say NO to JUNGLE JUSTICE!!!
Thank you.
Oyenike Alliyu-Adebiyi LLB(hons)BL
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