Dr Vladimir Kreck, Resident Representative of Konrad Adeneauer Stiftung (KAS), a German foundation, has urged the judiciary to be religious in upholding the rule of law to win back its reputation.
Kreck gave the advice, on Thursday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja following the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad’s remark that corruption also exists in the country’s judiciary.
NAN reports that Muhammad had made the statement, on Wednesday, during his confirmation by the Senate as the substantive CJN following the screening conducted by the upper legislative chamber in the Committee of the Whole.
President Muhammadu Buhari had sent Muhammad’s name to the Senate for confirmation as substantive CJN, on July 11, after the advice and recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission of Nigeria.
KAS resident representative said though he was aware that the judiciary had lost its reputation in the country, its prestige could still be regained to earn the respect of Nigerians.
”The judiciary’s assignment and mandate is to uphold the rule of law which actually means that they have to fulfill this assignment in a proper way.
”I am aware that the judiciary has lost reputation in Nigeria and in order to win back the reputation and the sympathy of the people, members of the judiciary must start to work properly by upholding the rule of law.
”This would be, of course, a long process but there must be a beginning as well,” he said. (NAN)