Legal Jargons
There are laid down rules that everyone in this country ought to follow; but it does look like “some animals are more equal than the others.” Wonder why our country should be so different from others. I wonder why on paper all seem equal before the law; and on the streets, it’s a different thing. I feel the law should protect both the rich and the poor.
Truth had to be told that the judicial system was in a horrible mess many years back. Then the poor and oppressed didn’t have the confidence to go to court because they feared things won’t turn in the favour. The oppressed were returning from our court rooms as the accused, and the defendants or accused where returning acquitted.
Interlocutory injunctions, experte motions, restraining orders, motion for appeal, lack of jurisdiction, and a host of other legal jargons were order of the day. Dare you take the big belly and big bum politician to court? Dare you threaten to seek legal redress in court? Things were going contrary to normal standards.
Things appear to have slightly changed because the just is getting justice, and the oppressed is getting the liberty he so much desires. The legal system is improving; people are beginning to see the sunray once again.
The injunctions and experte motions just won’t stop being abused by the rich and the politicians. Why can’t we have a situation where the rich and powerful people of this nation would just face trials instead of seeking for experte motions or restraining orders? The bible says that the wicked flees when no one pursues. What are our politicians actually afraid of? Someone is arraigned or about to be arrested on suspicion of stealing from the treasury; the next thing he does is rush to the court to seek for a restraining order. He doesn’t want to face trial because he feels someone is witch-hunting him. I mean, what’s wrong in allowing the court prove your innocence? Why cry wolf? Why play on people’s intelligence?
Sometimes things like these are no peculiar to Nigeria as a nation because the judicial system in other countries is also being manipulated by the rich and powerful. Unless it’s a prima facie case, the guilty manoeuvres his way far too easily than anyone can imagine. The law is good, but there are far too many clever lawyers and advocates out there who quote relevant portions to suit their clients.
Then when the wicked is set free at the expense of the innocent; the confidence reposed in the judicial system starts dropping. A man steals millions running into billions of public funds, he gets off with a light sentence, and someone says the law is powerless to do more than it has done already. Then another steals or is suspected to have stolen a few hundreds of Naira, and he gets clamped behind bars awaiting trials that may not come until his two year old son turns 12.
We are 55 this year, and the next we will turn 56; so how much progress have we made in the legal system? We are making some positive strides I must admit; but not giant ones considering how old we are.
I want to wake up to the day when rich powerful politicians will no longer hide under legal technicalities to escape justice. I want to wake up to the day when rich and powerful people would not run or evade trials because they have powerful godfathers.
They accuse me of stealing, and I said I am innocent, they said let’s go to court, and I said why not? After all I am innocent, and the court presents me the best opportunity to prove my innocence. It’s that simple! Why hide under interlocutory injunctions and restraining orders?
