A professor of law, Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), on Monday, said, the absolute powers enjoyed by state governors as a result of immunity remains a major obstacle in the fight against corruption in the country.
The immunity enjoyed by governors under Section 308 of the constitution prevents law enforcement agencies from investigating and prosecuting them while in office as governor.
Speaking on Monday at the 2024 law week of the Bwari branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja Prof. Akinseye-George said the country faces serious challenges when the “big men” stand in the way of the law.
He said, “The big man in Nigeria is above the laws of the land. Here, the law only rules when the big man allows it.
“Am example of a big man in Nigeria is the state governor. Theoretically, he is subject to the constitution, but in reality or practice, he is above the law.
“The governor has unlimited access to the security vote of his state. It is irrefutable that state governors enjoy absolute powers. They control virtually everything in the state, the legislature and the judiciary, the local government, traditional institutions, political party, markets, roads, name it”, he added.
Akinseye-George said, in his keynote paper titled, “Strengthening the foundations of Justice” that, “we saw how one governor used his immunity to shield his Godfather and predecessor from law enforcement agencies.
“We have also seen how some Judges are bending over backwards to issue all kinds of contradictory exparte orders prohibiting law enforcement agents from arresting some high profile politically exposed persons, including former sate governors who are alleged to have abused their office”.
He lamented an apparent abuse of power in a state where the governor ordered the demolition of the state house of assembly complex and another, where a governor refused to swear in the state chief judge.
According to him, those acts of lawlessness undermine the rule of law and erode the confidence of the populace in the system.
He said if the country must get it right lawyers need to rise up to their responsibility, saying that, “It is in the enlightened self-interest of lawyers to actively advocate and work for the emergence of a sound justice system founded on the Rule of Law.”
He called on the bar to call out violators of human rights in the country even as he described justice as a tangible infrastructure upon which a tangible economy is built.
Earlier in his welcome address the Chairman of that Bwari branch of the NBA, Paul Daudu emphasized the vital role that legal practitioners play in maintaining and strengthening the foundations of justice in Nigeria.
He urged lawyers to remain steadfast in their commitment to fairness, equality, and access to justice for all citizens
Daudu also urged Lawyers to be the voice of the voiceless and defenders of the defenceless, ensuring that justice is accessible to all segments of society.
According to him, practitioners have a duty to hold those in power accountable, safeguarding the rights and freedoms of citizens and ensuring that leaders respect the rule of law.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf represented by an administrative judge of Bwari high court, justice A .O. Ebong said, the business of justice delivery is the concern of all and urged all to join hands.
Also speaking, the chairperson of the law week, Chinyere Moneme said the theme of this year’s law week, “strengthening the foundation of justice” arises from the need to address the social and economic problems facing the country in recent times.
She said, justice is central to economic development, societal cohesion and harmony and added that the judiciary must perform its primary role of administering justice in an independent, transparent, efficient and speedy manner.
