The Nigerian Youth Organisation (NYO) has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to undertake rigorous ethical reforms to restore the dignity of the legal profession and align it unmistakably with the country’s democratic ideals.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the group’s president, Comrade Okorie C. Okorie, stated that the NYO speaks today not with soft words but with unshaken resolve and piercing clarity on the role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s democracy.
“Our democracy stands at a crossroads, threatened not just by visible enemies but by the insidious corruption and complicity within its very institutions,” he said.
He emphasised that the judiciary, as the bedrock of democratic governance, must never be complicit in the deterioration of democratic norms.
According to Okorie, the judiciary must not allow itself to be weaponised as an instrument to silence the opposition, which he described as “the lifeblood of any true democracy.”
He further stressed that the opposition serves as the voice of the voiceless, a check on power, and a catalyst for accountability. “Any attempt to use the courts to suppress dissent or subdue the cries of ordinary Nigerians is a direct assault on democracy itself,” he said.
“In light of the above,” he continued, “we demand that the judiciary reject being used as a tool of oppression. Judges and judicial officers must categorically refuse to be pawns in political games aimed at weakening democratic institutions.”
Okorie further emphasised that the judiciary must champion impartial justice without fear or favour. “The independence of the judiciary is sacrosanct. Any compromise must be met with national outrage and decisive disciplinary action,” he declared.
Addressing the legal profession, he urged lawyers to act with utmost integrity. “Lawyers who willfully mislead courts, manipulate legal processes, or exploit the judicial system to thwart democracy are enemies of our collective future,” he stated.
He also called on the National Judicial Council (NJC), the body responsible for judicial discipline, to rise to the occasion without hesitation.
“It must swiftly and transparently discipline judges and judicial officers whose conduct threatens democracy or undermines public trust in the judicial process. Mechanisms must be established to hold the judiciary accountable, ensuring no erring official is above consequences,” he said.
“This is non-negotiable. The future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on an unyielding commitment to justice, transparency, and accountability at every level of the justice delivery chain.”
Okorie concluded by reaffirming the NYO’s commitment to holding judicial actors accountable.
“The Nigerian Youth Organisation stands ready to hold all judicial actors to account. We will not hesitate to call out, protest against, and expose anyone undermining democratic governance—no matter how highly placed.”
“Democracy is not for the timid. It demands courage from judges, lawyers, regulatory bodies, and citizens alike. We demand nothing less than an uncorrupted, fearless, and vibrant judiciary that serves the people and the nation.”
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