Nigeria – Ensuring [un] rule of law

The current crisis in the Nigerian Judiciary is indicative of the failure of the executive arm of government to allow the judiciary to attain some level of independence and autonomy. An independent and autonomous judiciary is important for ensuring respect for the rule of law so as to check the excesses of the executive arm of government especially in terms of corruption, human rights violations and abuse of office. A continual disregard for the rule of law has major implications for the survival of the country’s nascent democracy and the dividends that may emerge from a stable and enduring democracy.