Judiciary turning Nigeria into laughing stock – CTJ on imprisonment of COAS, IGP, others

The Coalition for Truth and Justice, CTJ, has faulted the court order against the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Yahaya Faruk, and other heads of security agencies in the country.

The group cautioned the judiciary against turning Nigeria into a laughing stock before the international community by making certain judicial pronouncements against security chiefs.

The National President of the group, Barrister Timothy Charles, claimed that judicial pronouncements against security chiefs was a mockery of the judicial system.

Charles expressed his reservations against such pronouncements at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, warning that it could lead to chaos in the country and distract security agencies from their duties.

He said: “A situation where various courts in the country would issue orders remanding heads of security agencies in prison custody is indeed a mockery of our judicial system.

“The judicial arm of government must come to terms with the reality on the ground to understand that such actions can heat the polity and make the country a laughing stock before the international community.”

In recent time, courts have ordered the imprisonment of the Inspector General of Police, Baba-Ahmed, and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

Also, a Federal High Court in Minna, Niger State, had ordered the arrest of COAS.

However, Charles said the court order against COAS was worrisome and embarrassing.

“Our considered opinion is that it is an invitation for chaos; the judicial arm of government must be circumspect in issuing orders that amount to a systematic embarrassment of the Office of the Chief of Army Staff,” he said.