Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi has warned Nigerians and politicians against disparaging the judiciary following some court judgements over the last election.
Addressing journalists in his country home in Kwara state, Fagbemi claimed that the allegations making the rounds against the country’s judiciary as cheap blackmail. He added that anybody who has concrete evidence against any judge should feel free to bring it forward.
He said;
“You lost at the tribunal, you lost at the Appeal Court and at the Supreme Court yet you are insinuating foul play. I think even apart from law, morality also demands that you take the outcome as it is.
“I am not saying that judges cannot be wrong, because they are human beings. Where anybody sees or feels that the course of justice has been perverted, they should feel free to bring it forth rather than making unfounded insinuations.
“Unless you are able to bring forth concrete evidence, I will not succumb to blackmail. Nobody will shield an erring judge. One thing about justice is that the man who wins will praise the judgment, the person who loses will never agree that he has lost fairly unless you give him the judgment.
“Don’t forget, when you make unfounded insinuations, you are dragging the name of the nation in the mud.”
Fagbemi who further asked Nigerians to give President Tinubu a chance to turn around the fortunes of the country, added that his principal is not looking at the immediate benefits of his efforts but the long term benefits.
He said;
“That is why I appeal to all and sundry to give him a chance. He is a man who is ready for the task. It takes a while to see the full effect of his efforts.
“He is not the one who created these problems in Nigeria, but he is not complaining. President Tinubu is somebody who wants to work. He is prepared to do the job.
“He is not somebody who is just learning the job. He has done it before in Lagos State. I am not equating Lagos with Nigeria.
“Immediately after his swearing in, he has been all out to seek investors’ buy in. As a result, positive responses have been trailing his discussions with foreign investors.
“The only thing we need is to exercise some patience. Even if you plant a tree, it won’t grow into fruition until after a while.”