In the build-up to the 2027 general elections, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said on Thursday that the federal government would not succumb to blackmail by those he described as political desperados.
According to the AGF, “Those fanning the embers of hatred must be stopped,” adding that “those who have lost their sense of patriotism should know that they would not be allowed to set the country on fire.”
The justice minister made the bold statements in a speech he delivered at the conference of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), which was held in Abuja.
He said: “The political desperadoes must learn to act responsibly and within the laws of the land.”
“Let me state with respect that relevant government agencies will not be stopped from doing their work if anyone runs foul of the law.”
“The government will not succumb to blackmail no matter whose ox is gored. Violence, hate speech or any other criminal tendencies will not be tolerated in any form.
“As citizens of Nigeria, let us show our sense of patriotism and protect the unity of the country.”
The AGF’s stance came amid widespread misgivings among opposition political parties, who had alleged a deliberate witch-hunt of their members by various anti-corruption agencies.
Insinuations are equally rife that the government has a hand in the internal disputes rocking various opposition political parties.
However, the AGF, who acknowledged that activities towards the 2027 general elections have commenced in earnest, stressed that the media have their role to play.
He warned that the media, as a critical stakeholder, must not be used as a tool of division.
“As the main bridge between INEC, political actors, and 90+ million potential voters, the press shapes expectations, trust, and behaviour before ballots are cast and after results are declared.
“It is on this note that I urge the media not to give room to political actors trying to tear the fabric of this nation.
“The media must remember we need to have our country first before we can talk about elections.
“This administration sees the media as partners; that is why we have ensured that they do their job without intimidation or any form of threats.
“My office is a good example of this. I will continue to relate with all of you as my friends of old,” he added.
The AGF said the theme of the conference, “The Role of the Judiciary in Deepening Democracy in Nigeria”, is apt and a pointer to the role the judiciary has played in strengthening the country’s nascent democracy.
“The judiciary is often called the last hope of the common man, and in Nigeria that phrase carries real weight.
“As the third arm of government, it provides the legal backbone that allows democracy to function beyond elections.
“Without an independent and active judiciary, democratic gains can be rolled back quickly.
“At its core, the Nigerian judiciary deepens democracy by interpreting the 1999 Constitution and ensuring that both government and citizens act within its bounds,” the AGF, whose prepared speech was read by a senior official of the Ministry of Justice, Mr Hussain Oloyede, added.
While declaring the conference open, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, stressed that in every constitutional democracy, the strength of institutions is measured not only by the decisions they make but also by the degree to which those decisions are understood, trusted, and accepted by society.
She noted that though the judiciary serves as the guardian of constitutional order and also resolves disputes according to law, protects the rights and liberties of citizens, and ensures that governance remains subject to legal restraint, the meaning and impact of judicial work do not end within courtroom walls.
“They reach the public largely through those entrusted with reporting and interpreting judicial proceedings.
“Your role, therefore, is not merely observational; it is democratic in character. Accurate, responsible, and contextual reporting is indispensable to sustaining public confidence in the administration of justice,” the CJN, who was represented by the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Babatunde Adejumo, added.
The CJN assured that the judiciary remains unwavering in its commitment to independence, impartiality, fairness, and transparency.
“Correspondingly, the media bears the enduring responsibility of accuracy, fairness, and contextual analysis. When both institutions faithfully discharge these responsibilities, they reinforce one another and strengthen the democratic foundations of our nation.
“This conference, therefore, presents an important opportunity for reflection, dialogue, and renewed partnership,” she added.
In its presentation, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), represented by its general secretary Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, argued that as the nation continues to strengthen its democratic institutions, the National Judicial Council (NJC) must also continue to discharge its mandate of sanctioning erring judicial officers.
“Public confidence in the judiciary extends beyond the correctness of judicial decisions. It encompasses the perceived integrity, fairness, and reliability of the entire system. The NJC plays a critical, though often understated, role in shaping this perception.
“Institutional trust is built when citizens are confident that judges are selected based on merit, that misconduct is addressed promptly and fairly, and that standards are applied uniformly.
“Conversely, perceptions of inconsistency or opacity can erode trust, regardless of the actual merits of judicial decisions,” the NBA added.
In his address of welcome, the Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of NAJUC, Mr Kayode Lawal, said the conference was conceived with the aim of serving as a forum for interaction and cross-fertilisation of ideas between critical stakeholders in the nation’s judiciary and journalists.
“It is also part of the periodic refresher programmes of the body, an affiliate of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), to keep members abreast of modern-day development to enable us to discharge our duties to the optimum,” Mr Lawal stated.
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