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Crusade for Justice Marks 17th Anniversary with Seminar in Lagos

Crusade for Justice, an association of lawyers and activists concerned with the promotion of social and economic justice in Nigeria, marked its 17th anniversary in Lagos with a well attended seminar at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja.

The seminar had two themes, ‘The Rule of Law in Contemporary Nigeria: Myth or Reality,’ and ‘Legislative Oversight Functions in a Democracy: A Case Study of Nigeria.’

The event, which was moderated by Alex Muoka, a former chairman of the Lagos Bar, was chaired by a retired Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Ayotunde Philips. Others who joined the eminent jurist on the high table included Mr. Akin George, a deputy director at the Lagos State ministry of justice, who represented Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Dr. Vivian Okubuiro, who represented one of the guest speakers, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, dean of the faculty of law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and the second guest speaker, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, dean of the faculty of law at the University of Lagos.

Senior and junior members of both the bar and the bench also graced the occasion in their numbers.

In his address of welcome, the president and founder of the Crusade for Justice, Mr. Richard Nwankwo, made a bitter denunciation of what he described as the specter of internal colonization in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular, which he said was far more insidious and sinister than the European version, whose clutches we thought we had escaped back in the 1960s. Whereas in the days of British colonization and apartheid, you could be killed for protesting an unjust government policy, he said, but under the internal colonizers, you did not need to protest to be killed in today’s Nigeria. The massacres of innocent farmers and villagers by Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria’s middle belt region, he said, was a case in point, as well as what Nwankwo sees as a phantom fight against the Boko Haram insurgency and the military recent call for spiritual help in its campaign against the terrorist group.

Nwankwo ended by praising heroes and heroines who have stood for truth and justice over the years, sometimes in the face of ridicule by their less courageous compatriots. He also singled out staunch supporters of the Crusade for Justice for commendation, who had come to the aid of the group – in cash and in kind – for the past 17 years.

Justice Philips also struck a tone of despair at Nigeria’s recent decline, both in terms of physical infrastructure and our social and economic fabric. We seem to be going backwards, she said, adding that one very sure step toward the regeneration of Nigeria as a functional economy and society, as well as a thriving democracy, would be to abrogate the 1999 Constitution forthwith, and replace it with a more people centered document.

Also speaking on behalf of the Lagos State chief executive, Mr. George outlined the enviable track record of his government in the areas of justice reform, alternative dispute resolution, and the protection of citizens’ rights under law.

In her keynote address, Dr. Okubuiro, speaking on behalf of Prof. Ezeilo, gave low marks to all the critical players in the democratic enterprise, namely, the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government, as well as the media and the citizens. The idea of law, she said, was not to restraint or shackle freedom but to preserve and enhance it. While acknowledging the judiciary’s need for financial autonomy, Dr. Okubuiro called on judges to display ‘judicial creativity’ in order to preserve the fundamental freedoms of the citizens, and to deepen our democratic culture.

In her presentation on legislative oversight functions and how Nigeria has fared in this critical ingredient of the democratic process, Prof. Atsenuwa of UNILAG gave a definition of the subject to mean that the parliament must not only look into what the executive is doing, but also talk much, as a way of holding the executive accountable as to the relevance, cost and functions of its programmes. More importantly, she added, the legislature must make sure to create institutions that deliver justice and the rule of law. Beyond representing a geopolitical constituents, lawmakers must also represent what she called ‘constituents of interests.’ They must also refrain from holding the threat of impeachment over the heads of the President or governor like the proverbial Sword of Damocles, Prof. Atsenuws warned, even as she called for an end to futile partisanship, mutual disrespect, and the concept of power as a weapon and instrument to intimidate others – saying such an attitude among our political office holders was a shameful throwback to the impunity and arbitrariness of past military governments.

She called on Nigerians to elect only people of character and competence into office. This class of people, she believed, can actualize the legislature’s mandate to constantly enhance the capacities of its members.

Oversight functions, Atsenuwa concluded, must have clear terms of reference, rather than the shoddy, open ended practice that obtains at present.

Others who also spoke at the occasion included the chairman of the Ikeja Bar, Mr. Dele Oloke.

The speeches were followed by a lively and highly interactive Q&A session.

In all, as Justice Philip said in her rather sad summation, the rule of law is still a mirage in Nigeria, while oversight functions have degenerated into a macho contest. She called once again for the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to undergo a drastic review, or be thrown out altogether.

The 17th anniversary celebrations of the Crusade for Justice ended with Mr. Richard Nwankwo’s vote of thanks.

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