There seems to be
something strange about dispensing with justice in Nigeria. A noticeable trend
is the obvious disregard to summons and appearances before appropriate courts.
As a result, a litany of unsolved cases now abounds and the nation is moving as
if that is the accepted norm. Officials who perpetrate this craft are high
profiled and conscious of this very hiatus and thereby set out to deliberately
subvert their oath of office.
As a result, corruption
cases are rife, outright stealing in recognizable places have been on and even
those caught and brought before the law get reprieve. Mysteriously, only the
lowly placed become victims of this hubris or get convicted. Whereas, suspected
thieves who steal chicken get punished instantly, the “big fishes” are treated
with kid gloves and granted generous terms of settlement. Not since the days of
former President Obasanjo has this trend become more rampant.
As of the moment the
manner in which those in high places flout the law is unethical. They refuse to
appear before courts when summoned; when they eventually do, they feign
ignorance; we are even seeing cases where a Judge would rule and the orders are
boldly disputed! The arrogance displaced and the insolence is regrettable. Disappointed Nigerians now sneer at any news
of scandal outbreak, or arrest, because they know such will end up in the trash
can. This is how bad the situation has degenerated. Add this to the
disobedience to traffic laws, widespread argument with Policemen on the road,
making of phone calls while driving; no area is spared: recruitment's which
ordinarily is supposed to be on merit have been hijacked for select families;
contract awards cornered and the result is despair. So, it is now possible for
Pensioners to be deprived of their hard earned entitlements and even legitimate
workers denied salaries for upwards of eight months! The only project carried
out with precision and accuracy in Nigeria is campaigning for elections.
Nothing works better. Nigerian leaders are usually at their best when they are
talking about “delegates”, “ballot box” and how to deliver their constituency;
after that blackout!
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