By Umar Bayo Abdulwahab
Ilorin
Chairman of Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA), Issa Manzuma at the weekend, asked the federal government to ‘‘tame Nigeria’s security agencies’’ to save the country from international ridicule.
He said ‘‘the needless clashes among security agencies and the flagrant violation of fundamental human rights of helpless Nigerians in the course of their operation ,exposes the country to international ridicule and challenges our ability to build a nation.’’
The NBA chairman made the declaration just as the Chief Judge of Kwara state, Justice Sulyman Durosinlorun Kawu, asked members of the Bar to stop writing what he called ‘frivolous petitions’ against members of the Bench.
The duo spoke at the 2017 annual bar dinner of the Ilorin branch of the NBA held at the banquet hall, Ilorin on Saturday night. The CJ was represented at the dinner by Justice Atinuke Akinpelu of the State High Court.
Manzuma, while commenting on the state of justice delivery in Nigeria, praised the federal government for setting up corruption trial monitoring committee to ensure speedy trial of anti-corruption cases pending before various courts.
‘‘Sections 36 (4) of the 1999 constitution provides that every person arraigned for a criminal offence shall be entitled to a fair hearing within the a reasonable time .While those standing trial for corruption related offences could afford to retain the service of the best brains in the legal profession to defend them. Our prisons are overcrowded with ordinary Nigerians, accused of minor offences –some even misdemeanour.
‘‘It is my humble view that unless this ugly situation is arrested urgently, the country faces serious threats as the prisons have become training grounds for criminals,’’ he said.
