An 11-member Independent Judicial Accountability Panel, which includes three retired justices, has faulted the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
According to report the panel, led by retired Justice Mojeed Owoade of the Court of Appeal, expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s judgment in appeals related to Rivers State’s political disputes.
In a statement released on March 14, 2025, after its inaugural meeting in Abuja, the panel questioned the apex court’s remarks on the defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a matter that remains unresolved in the courts.
The panel noted that although the Supreme Court had not been presented with concrete evidence to confirm the defection of these lawmakers, it had nonetheless made comments on the issue, potentially clouding ongoing legal processes.
The panel emphasized that such commentary was unnecessary and could undermine public trust in the judiciary.
It pointed out that the Supreme Court should have refrained from addressing issues pending in other courts, as it had no substantive case before it regarding the defection of the lawmakers.
Moreover, the panel declared that the Supreme Court had “become functus officio” on the matter, meaning it could not entertain any further review of the case.
The panel also criticized the complexity of the Supreme Court’s judgments, stating that such decisions often fail to be easily understood by the public, which can erode confidence in the legal system.
It called for more transparency and clarity in judicial processes to ensure the trust of ordinary citizens.
In addition, the panel issued several recommendations aimed at improving the relationship between the judiciary and politics.
These included urging politicians to avoid undue interference with the judiciary and encouraging greater respect for court orders.
The panel also called for stronger citizen engagement in holding both the judiciary and government accountable, emphasizing the importance of media in fostering transparency.
The panel is part of a larger initiative led by ActionAid Nigeria and the Citizens’ Led Engagement on Judicial Accountability in Post-Election Justice Delivery in Nigeria (CLEAP-Justice), which began in July 2023.
