Politicians have brought rot into the Supreme Court – Robert Clarke
Robert Clarke (SAN) has lamented over the rate of interference in Nigeria’s judiciary by politicians, thereby hindering the delivery of good governance.
The Senior Advocate who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics called for a reform of Nigeria’s judiciary and the constitution which he faulted for allowing “so much money to filter into the system of politics.”
“I stand by my words and I have no regret to have said that there is a rot in the Supreme Court. I did not say that the Supreme Court judges were rotten. I said politicians have brought rot into the Supreme Court. We are all Nigerians we have seen how this country has been managed in the past 20-30 years, it gives no hope to you and I.
“Since politics came in 20 years ago, the judiciary has not been the same, politics has not been the same. The politics of the first, second Republic are quite different from the politics (practiced) in these past 20 years. This is a rotten constitution that allows so much money to filter into the system of politics,” he lamented.
Clarke also gave his opinion on the Supreme Court verdict on the Osun State election. According to him, the Supreme court’s verdict is ‘deadly correct’ in the interest of fairness and justice.
“The judgement of the Supreme Court came as a surprise to some elements of the society in Osun State and also did not come as a surprise to many people who are learned in the law. The judgement was by a majority of five to two.
The five judges giving judgement to the APC decided that due to the fact that the lead man who wrote the judgement in the tribunal never participated on the very valid day that certain decisions were taken and which he now read as judgement.
The other two claimed that the malpractice surrounding the re-run itself was not necessary and that INEC was really wrong to have conducted that re-run. In the interest of justice and fair-haring, the Supreme Court was deadly correct.”
Clarke added that although Supreme court judges are very busy, cross-examination is vital and that the judge should not simply have written the judgement and in the interest of justice.