ByOgbonna Amadi
Retired Supreme Court Justice, Chukwudifu Oputa has lamented the crisis of confidence rocking the judiciary in the country which culminated in the removal of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami by President Goodluck Jonathan, describing it as most unfortunate and most embarrassing.

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Justice Oputa who was fondly referred to as the Socrates of the apex court while he was on the bench argued that the judicial system presently needs sanitization

Said he:

“What is happening in the judiciary is most unfortunate and most embarrassing. It is a happening that could never ever have been imagined in our days. The judiciary is however a part of the Nigerian polity. It is therefore naturally reflecting the general decay that unfortunately permeates the entire system for some time now.

“However what happens in the judiciary raises more dust and poses more danger because the judiciary is supposed to be the citadel of rectitude and the bastion of law and order. The last hope for a nation state melts away when corruption and politics also engulf the very core of law interpretation and enforcement.

“Much wisdom, maturity and patriotism are needed to handle the delicate equation that has developed. Certainly the judicial system needs serious sanitization. Sometimes I despair. With the general breakdown in morality how can there be hope that the judiciary will be run by Nigerians who will continue to resist mounting temptation from our corrupt environment.

“What is happening is ominous and portends grave dangers. Its capacity to disrupt must not be underrated”.

While refraining from apportioning blame on the crisis, Justice Oputa advised that “all those in responsible positions must close rank to fight corruption and indiscipline with relentlessness wherever it is found no matter whose ox is gored. This we must do for the stability and forward march of our nation”.

According to him, “without interpretation and enforcement there could be no law and without law there could be no order and without order there could be no system. What can stem a collapse once it starts if the judiciary cannot command respect? May the gun never again become our arbiter”.

Regretting that money has become a god which many people now worship in the society, Justice Oputa however gave kudos to the government for the salary review in the judiciary saying, “I was happy that the salary review had finally been done. For those of us of the old order, what gave us satisfaction was the competence we were able to bring to bear in our duties. Money had not become the deity it seems to be for this present generation.

“Luckily there was no inflation in the economy and no exaggerated life styles so the little take home we had, still afforded us a comfortable and respected life”.