Cross Udo, Abuja

A former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mike Igini, says it is a worrisome situation that some Nigerian judges have ruined the reputation of the judiciary.

The former Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also said he would never be part of any plot or design to deceive Nigerians.

Recall that many Nigerians including those in the Diaspora had accused Igini of deceiving the public through his weekly voters’ and civic education before the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections where he had assured that with the BVAS and the iReV, the elections would be transparent, credible, free and fair.

Besides, some Nigerians have accused the judiciary especially the judges of not rising to the occasion when it mattered most and have allowed themselves to be compromised by politicians.

Responding to a question in an interview yesterday that the judiciary appeared to have lost its reputation, where monetary inducement has become the deciding factor in delivering judgements, Igini said though some bad eggs have given the judiciary a bad name, there are still good ones that could be relied upon.

The former REC, who is a senior lawyer said, “Well, the situation in my constituency (judiciary) is worrisome and disturbing particularly when both serving and retired judicial officers and even members of the public express a lack of confidence in the judicial system.

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“That is the most dangerous level of discredit that, members of the bar and particularly the bench must not allow the system to degenerate to, otherwise we are in big trouble.

“As a lawyer, l feel diminished and ashamed that politicians, the majority of whom are not lawyers, semi-educated money-bag politicians could be allowed to bring our noble profession to this level of opprobrium, resentment, and distrust from members of the public who no longer respect us because of the unethical conduct of some members of the bar, particularly the bench.

“I repeat some members because we have shining members of both the bar and the bench who are exemplary and worthy of emulation. But the very bad ones have ruined our collective reputation.

“These politicians brag and boast about what they do with members of my constituency to get whatever they want and that is why they are quick at telling opponents to go to court after compromising collation and returning officers.

“Is it not surprising that politicians who go all out to undermine electoral laws and rig elections are the ones that will tell people to go to court? As noted very correctly by the learned Silk Agbakoba, the recent decision of the Supreme Court like others  in favour of individuals that didn’t participate in party primaries has further affected public confidence and this is very unfortunate because of the timing of the decision so close to the 2023 election.”

On what Nigerians especially people who are not satisfied with the outcome of the just concluded election should expect from the court, he said, “Judiciary must stand tall and mighty in defence of democracy and the rule of law. We have to go about solving this problem the way the United Kingdom itself introduced Nigeria to election rigging and ended electoral rigging and fraud such that for a period of almost one hundred (100) years precisely 99 years, there was no post-election petition adjudication in England till 2010 concerning Liberal Democrats.

“Historically, the UK was one of the notorious countries noted for vote buying and election rigging and because of the concern that such practice of use of money could be used by politicians also to capture the judiciary in England by buying judges if the courts were to adjudicate on electoral disputes, allegations of electoral malpractices by way of election petitions were initially determined by parliament and not the courts to insulate the judiciary from potential corruption. However, parliament with majority party members expectedly could not deliver electoral justice to opposition petitioners for years.

“Consequently, it was decided that the courts in England should assume jurisdiction over post-election petitions that was how the court became involved. But mindful of the fact that the ills of corruption that prevented justice from being served to petitioners in parliament could be transferred to the courts, parliament had to pass the 1872 secret ballot Act, Electoral corruption and illegal practice Act of 1872 as well as the 1883 ballot Act with a range of consequences such as expulsion from parliament, a ban for seven years from politics or life from politics.

“These were the laws that judges and the courts used strictly in England to do substantive justice to election petitions to discourage potential election rigger politicians in the UK and never hid under the technicality that encourages election riggers in Nigeria who are quick to tell people to go to court.

“Because the courts in England were never a haven for election riggers, given that they, politicians linked to election rigging could be banned for life from participation in politics, and with various legislation to strengthen the electoral process free of manipulation and corruption in the UK then as we tried to achieve with the 2022 Act and the BVAS/iReV technology, politicians had to abide by the process because of fear of severe consequences from the courts.”

On the criticisms against him that he deceived the public before the elections that the process was going to be credible, Igini said, “I can understand the feelings of extreme disappointment, pains, and frustrations of fellow countrymen and women particularly youths, over what was promised and the painful experience they went through during the elections and their unmet expectations.

“We are in this agonizing moments of pain together, l have been down emotionally and still in shock over the level of deviation from established laws, issued guidelines, and procedures that we all signed into and that l leveraged on, honestly and faithfully to call on Nigerians to participate fully to determine their leaders.”