An Abuja-based lawyer, Emmanuel Umahi Ekwe, has criticised the Nigerian judiciary as lacking the courage and authority to decisively uphold justice in the country. 

The criticism was contained in a recent press release made available to Blueprint in Abuja on Friday, where the lawyer highlighted troubling judicial failures that have over time undermined public confidence in the rule of law

Ekwe drew attention to the Nigerian Bar Association’s ongoing lawsuit, where it is challenging the Nigeria Police Force’s enforcement of its tinted glass permit policy. Despite a pending Federal High Court case initiated by the NBA to suspend the policy on constitutional grounds, police enforcement efforts he noted has continued unabated. 

According to Ekwe, the blatant disregard for judicial processes reflects the judiciary’s weakness in enforcing court orders robustly, a failure that has serious implications for the protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms

He also referenced the controversy surrounding the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. 

The unprecedented prosecution and suspension of a sitting Chief Justice he feared revealed deep fissures within the judiciary and raised profound questions about judicial independence and institutional integrity. 

Ekwe emphasized that these incidents “reflect a judiciary hesitant to act decisively, thereby emboldening lawlessness and eroding public trust.”

As Nigeria navigates complex governance and security challenges, Ekwe’s stark assessment underlines the urgent need for collective action to restore the judiciary’s strength and integrity, which remain critical to the nation’s progress and democratic resilience.