Independence of judiciary non negotiable -Senate

Senate has declared that the independence of judiciary is non negotiable, adding that no democracy can survive without being founded on the rule of law and the independent judiciary.

Speaking to journalists on Monday at the National Assembly, the chairman,  Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central), decried the refusal of various state governments to grant financial autonomy to the judicial arm of government despite constitution amendment to that effect and even Executive Order 10, issued by President Muhamnadu Buhari.

Bamidele therefore urged the state governors to do the needful on the matter, saying “it is laughable that at this point, we are still grappling with the need to grant independence to the judiciary arm of government at the state level and local governments levels.”

“The National Assembly has been making laws that would guarantee full autonomy to the judiciary at the federal level.

“The National Assembly does not make laws for the states, such power resides in the state Houses of Assembly. Judiciary at the Federal Capital Territory is independent because we have done what we are supposed to do.

“What is next is for the state Houses of Assembly to do what they are supposed to do. As a principle, as a policy, members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, have tried not to call on those who are protesting to stop such protests.

“We do not want protests, but definitely, we would rather talk more to state governors,  Houses of Assembly and other stakeholders to do the needful in the overriding public interest.

“We cannot continue to call on the judiciary to give peace a chance when we know the conditions under which they work cannot guarantee a passionate and enhanced delivery of justice.

“We are talking about judicial reform, we are talking about the need for justice sector reforms. This is central and crucial to the independence of the judiciary in this country.

“We must not be left behind by the rest of the civilized world. Nobody stands to lose anything by granting independence to  judiciary at the state level since it has been done at the national level.

“The fact that workers and staff of federal judiciary are joining the protest is only in solidarity with their colleagues at the state levels. It is a union matter and we do not have a control over it.

“We are hereby calling on the state governors to do the needful because the independence of the judiciary is non negotiable. No democracy can survive without being founded on the rule of law and independent judiciary,” he stressed.