Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, a prominent legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has condemned the increasing incidence of conflicting judicial rulings in the country, describing it as an aberration that undermines Nigeria’s democracy.
Chief Ayorinde (SAN) has equally identified technology as a way out of menace of conflicting court judgement which he said is detrimental to good governance in the country.
He stated this while speaking with journalists in Ibadan on occasion of the nation’s 64th Independence anniversary.
He highlighted several recent cases where conflicting judgments from different courts have created legal uncertainties, particularly in high-profile political cases.
Chief Ayorinde, who frowned at delivery of conflicting judgements by some judges, which according to him, is an abberation in the administration of justice, said such could lead to anarchy and chaos if care was not taken.
The legal luminary, who is the Chairman of Oyo state Governor’s Advisory Council, maintained that with the required technology in place, judges would be able to review related judgement before another one.
He emphasized that such discrepancies could be exploited by political actors, further destabilizing the democratic framework of the nation.
The Senior Advocate called for immediate reforms within the judiciary to establish clearer guidelines and promote greater accountability among judges.
Ayorinde also urged legal practitioners to uphold the principles of justice and fairness, stressing that the judiciary must remain independent and insulated from political pressures.
“The role of the judiciary is to interpret the law consistently and fairly. When we have conflicting judgments, it not only breeds confusion but also calls into question the integrity of our judicial system,” Chief Ayorinde SAN, said.
Speaking further, Chief Ayorinde equally urged government to address the multidimentional challenges facing the nation believing that there is still hope for the nation get out of the current quagmire.
The legal icon however countered members of House of Representatives seeking conferement of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on its Speaker, Tajudeen Abass instead of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
It would be recalled that House of Representatives members are currently agitating for conferement of GCON honor on Tajudeen Abass as it’s been done to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekereekun.
He said, “You don’t agitate for honor but it is giving to you, some Nigerinas has problem with sense of entitlements.
“I don’t know a law that says once you became a Speaker of House of Representatives, you must be giving GCON. You can even be a ‘Speaker’ without being giving any National Honor. It can even be after you have left the office you are giving recognition.
“I’m not sure if the CJN was confered that honor because she is the CJN, her years of service to the nation must have been considered before she was confered that honor.
“She started as a Magistrate, became high court Judge, before moving to the Court of Appeals and has also been at Supreme court for many years.
“If House of Representatives members want GCON for its ‘Speaker’, they should continue in their service to the nation, and that time will come, but this sense of over entitlements is not the best.”