Build politically neutral judiciary –Atiku

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Muktar, to build a stronger, independent, assertive and politically neutral judiciary.

Atiku in a statement on Thursday by his media office in Abuja congratulating the first-woman Chief Justice of Nigeria on her confirmation, said the judiciary is the citadel of the defence of everything democracy stands for.

According to him, the success or failure of the democratic system depends significantly on a vibrant judiciary and its capacity to protect all interests without fear of favour.

He said the enforcement of the rule of law and the challenges of checking the abuse of power or the tendency towards imperial dictatorship underscored the critical role of the judiciary in democracy.

The former VP said despite the recent controversies surrounding the image of the judiciary, members of the bench rose to the occasion many times in the past to protect our democracy from abuses of power.

He said, “Constitutional provisions alone are not enough to make the judiciary independent unless the Judges themselves demonstrate the courage to do their jobs according to their consciences and the law.”

via Punch