An 11-member Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP), which includes three retired justices, has criticized the Supreme Court’s judgment on the political crisis in Rivers State. Led by retired Justice Mojeed Owoade of the Court of Appeal, the panel shared its concerns after its first meeting in Abuja on Friday, March 14, 2025.
Concerns Over Judgment Gaps
The panel expressed worry that the Supreme Court did not clearly address important issues related to the crisis. One major point of contention is the alleged defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Although the court made remarks on the defection, it failed to directly resolve the matter. As a result, a significant gap remained in the judgment.
According to the panel, there was no concrete evidence at the time to prove that the 27 lawmakers had lost their status as legitimate members of the Assembly. Therefore, the panel argued that the Supreme Court should have refrained from making any comments, especially since there were still pending cases on the issue.
No Room for Judicial Review
Justice Owoade clarified that there is no possibility of filing for a judicial review. He explained that the Supreme Court had already fulfilled its duty in the matter. Furthermore, he noted that long and complicated court judgments often confuse the public, which can damage trust in the judiciary. As a result, he urged judges to maintain clarity and integrity when delivering judgments.
Call for Political and Judicial Integrity
In addition, the panel advised politicians to avoid putting undue pressure on the judiciary. It called for greater tolerance among politicians to promote peace and progress. Moreover, the panel urged the government to obey court orders and respect citizens’ rights.
The panel also criticized the Federal Government for ignoring the ECOWAS Court ruling that ordered compensation for victims of the October 2020 End SARS protests. It stressed the importance of respecting both domestic and international court judgments as part of Nigeria’s treaty obligations.
Encouraging Citizen and Media Accountability
To ensure a more accountable judiciary, the panel encouraged citizens to take an active role in holding the government and judiciary responsible. Additionally, it urged the media to report on judicial matters with courage, accuracy, and fairness.
Panel Members and Background
The panel includes retired Justices Chinwe Iyizoba and Oloduton Adefope-Okojie, as well as legal experts and academics such as Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, Prof. Jummai Audi, Mr. Mac Imoni Amarere, Barr. Sechap A. Tsokwa, Andrew Mamedu, Judith Gbagidi, Barr. Funmi Olukeye, and Celestine Okwudil.
This panel emerged from a project by ActionAid Nigeria and the Citizens’ Led Engagement on Judicial Accountability in Post-Election Justice Delivery in Nigeria (CLEAP-Justice). Since its launch in July 2023, the project has focused on promoting judicial accountability beyond just election-related cases.
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