The governor of Rivers state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Monday, charged judges responsible for the administration of law and justice to consider the overall impact of their judgments on the polity.

He stated that law and order, as well as the rate of national development are inextricably linked to the quality of justice the courts can deliver with integrity. 

Fubara, who  gave the advice while declaring open the  66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)   in Port Harcourt, Rivers state,  said  the judges must ensure that nothing but the truth prevails at all times, irrespective of the parties’ status or social affiliations. 

“We cannot continue to insulate our laws from today’s reality; neither should justice remain shackled by unjust precedents, technicalities, inadequate access, undue delays, slavish adherence to rigid processes, political manipulation, or brazen corruption.

“The prevalence of these serious impediments to justice in our polity has damaged and continues to damage the reputation of the judiciary and the bar,” he said.

Governor Fubara added that in a democratic society, the legal system sets out the rules of conduct and the basis for the relationship between government, public and private institutions and the citizens.

Apart from upholding the rule of law, Governor Fubara said, the judiciary is also essential to any country seeking to foster true democracy, good governance, and economic development.

The governor said the courts are not merely venues for resolving social disputes as they serve as the ultimate refuge for all, including the common man, to pursue true justice, accountability, human dignity and the enforcement of their legal and constitutional rights. 

He contended that the ultimate aim of law is to protect and advance the security and well-being of citizens by ensuring equality before the law, safeguarding the fundamental human rights of all and fostering an environment conducive to socioeconomic activities and national transformation.

He added that law, order, peace and meaningful progress prevail wherever the law is treated as sovereign, whereas denying the sanctity of the rule of law, true democracy and good governance negates the very logic of civilised existence and is a recipe for social disaster.

” Consequently, we expect that  our judges should not be mere apologists or conformists if they are to be the ultimate guardians of our democracy, the rule of law and the advancement of peace and good governance in our country,” he said.

Governor Fubara stated that public confidence on the quality of the nation’s judiciary will be enhanced only when judges demonstrate sound knowledge of the law, and display excellent legal reasoning, courage, commitment and integrity to hold the government and the governed equally accountable to the constitution and the rule of law.