LAGOS—Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has asked Ms Gabriela Knaul, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers to use her good offices and position to urgently investigate recent reports of attack on courts and judges in Ekiti State of Nigeria, and to make it very clear to the Nigerian government that her mandate will not accept intimidation, harassment or any form of attacks against judges and other actors of the justice system.

Fayemi and Fayose

In a petition dated 29 September 2014 and signed by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said: “Apart from violating the rights of the judges to personal dignity and security, the attacks also constitute a threat to the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and the entire justice system.

The attacks amount to improper interferences and pressures on the judiciary, and can undermine the smooth function of justice, public’s confidence in the rule of law, effective enjoyment of human rights, and ultimately lead to people taking the law into their own hands.”

According to the organization, “Impunity for such acts of intimidation and harassment can also have a ‘chilling effect’ on other judges, negatively influencing the quality of their work, forcing them to renounce certain kinds of cases, and working in the fear that they or their families may be at risk because of their judicial work.”