THE desecration of the hallowed grounds of Ekiti State High Court by miscreants and hired political party thugs who disrupted court proceedings, destroyed records and property, physically assaulted judges and their staff the other day is a sad manifestation of the rule of force over the rule of law. That was a desecration of the temple of justice, which must not be allowed to go unpunished. The fact that the erosion of the sanctity of the judiciary twice within four days was also seemingly accommodated by a clearly compromised security apparatus is unacceptable and should be treated by the authorities as a serious breach of the law. Such barbarism and debasement of pillars of the nation’s democracy must never be allowed to stand in the country and the invading thugs as well as their likely backers should face the full weight of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.
In the face of the assault, the perceived silence of the Federal authorities on the Ekiti infraction is too loud or rather deafening for comfort. It is not enough to react to some breaches and keep mute on others so long as criminals are assaulting the collective integrity of citizens just as they promote insecurity in the land. Hence, any attempt by any one, no matter his or her status, to cover up this contempt of the courts should, therefore, be resisted. It is the only way the authorities maintain a rational society, keep brutes in check and avoid a descent into a society where anarchy reigns.
The unprecedented attacks on the judiciary had forced an indefinite suspension of court sessions by the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, pending the provision and assurance of “adequate and effective security of our judges, magistrates, members of the bar and members of staff of the judiciary and other court users.” This is just as well. But then, no matter the intimidation from the yet unidentified quarters, whatever suit is before the distinguished judges at the receiving end of the thugs’ attack must be allowed to proceed, failing which thuggery becomes a ready tool to truncate justice.
What transpired in Ekiti on those two days was criminality of the worst kind and a disgrace of immeasurable proportions. Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi of High Court 6 in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, was served the first dose by the thugs as he presided over a matter before his court. He is also incidentally handling a case challenging the eligibility of governor-elect, Ayo Fayose. His sitting was reportedly aborted and he had to be ferried away after harassment and chasing around by the invaders. Perhaps emboldened by their free passage on September 22, four days later, it was the turn of Justice John Adeyeye of High Court 3 to endure the brutal assault of the thugs who manhandled him and tore his dress. Every other court user scampered into safety as the party thugs also disrupted proceedings at the adjoining governorship Election Petition Tribunal hearing the complaint against Mr. Fayose who himself, minutes earlier, reportedly had an altercation with Justice Adeyeye who had accosted him and requested him to caution his disruptive party supporters around his court.
The two incidents are not only embarrassing, they draw a number of posers: are the court premises so porous to expose judicial officers to assault? Where were the security personnel on duty, especially the police, before the incidents? Has the crisis anything to do with any of the cases involving Mr. Fayose both in the High Court and the tribunal? Were the incidents part of a grand plan to prevent hearing cases that could stall the scheduled October 16 inauguration of Mr. Fayose as Ekiti State new governor? Which of the two dominant parties – APC and PDP – in Ekiti sent out its army of occupation to cause mayhem on the two occasions?
Answers must be found to these questions and culprit punished.
The outgoing government of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s shortly after its assumption of power about four years ago branded the state ‘Ekiti, Land of Honour’, a befitting description. So why would some political thugs with the tacit support of political henchmen be allowed to bring dishonour to a very honourable people? The Ekiti case has set a bad precedent with that assault on the judiciary but such uncivilised behaviour must never be repeated anywhere again in this country. This is the more reason the perpetrators must be apprehended and punished. Political gladiators masquerading as honourable men in the society must also take lessons in decency and decorum.
Suffice to say that this brigandage notwithstanding, all cases in the Ekiti courts must be heard and justice must be done. These include the cases challenging the eligibility of the governor-elect. Nigeria must not be allowed to become a jungle where animals rule and there is no justice. Confidence in the state’s judiciary must be restored while security around the judges and the courts must be improved. Ekiti must not be allowed to descend into a state of lawlessness.
