Nigerian Supreme Court’s Controversial Ruling Sparks Outrage: Justice for Sale?
posted 17th March 2025
Nigerian Supreme Court’s Controversial Ruling Sparks Outrage: Justice for Sale?
Lagos, 17 March 2025 – A recent judgement from Nigeria’s Supreme Court has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with many accusing the apex court of overstepping its bounds and undermining the integrity of the judiciary. In a surprising twist, the court ruled on a matter not formally before it – whether 27 lawmakers loyal to former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike lost their seats by defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The decision has shattered the long-held maxim that "the court is not a Father Christmas," revealing a judiciary that critics say can be swayed when the price – or "kwudi" – is right.
The case, originally centred on a separate political dispute in Rivers State, took an unexpected turn when the Supreme Court opined that the 27 lawmakers, who had publicly declared their defection to the APC in 2023, did not lose their seats and remained legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This ruling came despite the issue of their defection not being part of the appeals before the court, leaving legal experts and citizens alike baffled. The Nigerian Constitution, under Section 109(1)(g), is explicit: lawmakers who defect from the party that sponsored their election must vacate their seats unless a division within their original party justifies the move. No such division in the PDP was evidenced, yet the court’s pronouncement has been labelled by some as the "Supreme Iniquity."
Public reaction has been swift and scathing. On social media platforms like X, hashtags such as #Damn and #Criminals have trended as Nigerians express their disillusionment. “Father Christmas has come early this year – all it took was the right ego,” one user quipped, referencing the local slang for money. Another questioned, “What happened to the affidavits they swore, claiming APC membership? This is justice for the highest bidder.”
The ruling has fuelled allegations that Nigerian courts can indeed play Father Christmas, dispensing favourable outcomes to those with the means to influence them. Legal scholars argue that the Supreme Court’s decision not only contradicts constitutional provisions but also sets a dangerous precedent by addressing an issue outside its jurisdiction in this case. “This is a judicial overreach of staggering proportions,” said Dr. Amina Yusuf, a constitutional law expert in Abuja. “The court has effectively rewritten the law to suit a narrative, and that’s a gift no one asked for.”
As the controversy deepens, the spotlight is back on the judiciary’s credibility. With trust already waning, this latest episode suggests to many that justice in Nigeria may come with a price tag – one that ordinary citizens cannot afford. For now, the myth of an impartial court lies in ruins, replaced by a growing belief that, in the right hands, the gavel can deliver more than just verdicts; it can hand out presents too.
