CJN Onnoghen warns against government disobeying court orders

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter S. N. Onnoghen, has warned that anarchy looms if the government disobeys court orders and rule of law.

 

Onnoghen gave this warning as the guest lecturer at the first University of Lagos (UNILAG) Faculty of Law public lecture at the varsity’s main campus in Akoka, Lagos.

The CJN spoke in a 17-page speech entitled: “The Rule of Law as Panacea for Peace, Security and Good Governance.”

He said: “Any government that is against the enthronement of the rule of law is by implication inviting anarchy into the system. A democratic government must not only obey the law but also courts’ orders.

“I have said it before and I am saying it again that if given four years of adherence to the rule of law, Nigeria can change. The problem of insecurity, killings, among others will become a thing of the past.

“But rather than confronting our fears which is how to satisfy the minority groups, we keep creating states and local governments yet the fear remains.

“But if the rule of law is to be put in place, the minority groups will know that even if they are to be violated, they can go to court and get justice.”