A Bayelsa state High Court Judge, Justice Ebiyerin Umokoro, has challenged the pro-democracy and Civil Society groups to demand good governance from the political class by filing cases that will ensure the legal protection of public interests, human rights and social justice for the people.
Justice Ebiyerin Umokoro said at the weekend in Yenagoa during the presentation of a paper titled “Judicial Activism: How the Judiciary can help enthrone Good Governance” as part of the 2019 Annual Feast of Barracuda organized by the National Association of Seadogs.
He said though Judges have emboldened themselves through needed judicial activism to protect the people, the civil society groups and other rights groups must be bold and provoke cases that determine the fate of the people.
Justice Umokoro, who commended the role of the judiciary during the dark days of the military rule, said the judiciary, despite few cases alleged indiscretion among some judges, has done well and bold is bold enough to engage in judicial activism.
According to him, “there was once a time, when courts could shy away from handling cases against the government and its agencies by taking cover under restrictive definitions of locus standi”.
He called on the National Association of Sea Dogs to participate by provoking public interest litigation and assist in provoking the spirit of judicial activism in the judiciary.
Earlier in his speech, the “Capo” of the NAS,Ox-Bow Marino Deck, Dr. Anthony Geoffery, said the annual feast of Baracuda provide an opportunity for the association to interact with larger society and brainstorm on nagging issues that may militate against a just and egalitarian society.
Dr. Geoffery said though the feast of baraccuda is inspired by the long tradition of the pirates of old, whereby once in a year they come ashore with bounties from their buccannering sea voyage and share with the populace.
“The Barracuda fish, which was shared with those in attendance,” is our own bounty that we share with the populace and today we brainstorm on issues of judicial activism that can help enthrone a just and egalitarian society “
“Our primary goal is to identify the constraints militating against the attainment of a just society and putting in place modality to combat them,” he said.
