Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has said that the Bola Tinubu-led administration would not yield to blackmail because of claims made against recent court rulings resulting from election disputes.
He declared that the federal government would not defend negligent judges who were discovered to have committed wrongdoing, and he added that any criticism of a court decision ought to be supported by concrete evidence.
Speaking outside of a special prayer and reception hosted by family members over the weekend to celebrate his appointment to the Ijagbo, Oyun local government area of Kwara state, Fagbemi stated that the accusations that followed some recent court rulings were, up until they were proven false, illegal blackmail.
Recall that some expressed fear that the judiciary was under siege following recent judicial rulings on disputes surrounding this year’s general elections.
During the reception, which was attended by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, National Assembly members, prominent legal figures, associates, and business leaders, the Attorney General of the Federation issued a warning against acting hastily due to electoral setbacks that have been reversed in court.
He pointed out that it was misleading to claim that sitting judges receive payments in exchange for rendering decisions because court decisions are invariably predicated on the evidence that is offered to jurors before they consider a case.
The legendary lawyer Fagbemi continued by saying that contestants in the election should embrace good sportsmanship and refrain from showing signs of desperation.
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Let me tell you something about justice: the victor will always give credit to the courts, but the loser will never acknowledge that he was defeated legitimately unless they rendered a ruling. I refuse to give in to what I will refer to as blackmail since that is exactly what it is, until you can provide verifiable proof.
“Nobody will defend an incompetent judge if you have proof. Bring it forward and express it. Because the mere fact that you were unsuccessful shouldn’t cause you to become careless. That is not how it operates. You presented your facts because you wanted to win. That is not the position, the court declared. You lost your appeal when you tried it. You lost, Supreme Court. I believe morality also requires you to accept things as they are, independent of the law.
“I’m not suggesting that because judges are people, they can’t make mistakes. It’s okay if they are mistaken and it has nothing to do with bribes or corruption. However, you are aware of how to demonstrate corruption if you wish to. Fagbemi stated, “The fact that you lost shouldn’t imply that the judge has been bought off.”
Speaking on the current administration, the minister of justice claimed that the President’s readiness for the position was demonstrated by the events of the final few months of Tinubu’s presidency.
But since he claimed to have inherited the country’s issues, he urged the populace to be patient.
“This individual, Mr. President, appears to be someone who wants to work. He is ready to work, has experience doing it, and does not wish to learn on the job.
“Whoever is able to lead Lagos ought to be able to lead Nigeria.” Though you understand what I mean, I’m not equating Lagos with Nigeria. That serves as the country’s economic hub. Visit Lagos to see his act.
Even though he did not cause these issues in Nigeria, he is not moaning. How did he act right after being sworn in? He set out to get investors’ buy-in and support, and he has been successful in doing so. Positive feedback from his meetings with overseas investors has been evident.
It doesn’t just arrive like that; the only thing we need is for it to take longer. Trees take a while to bear fruit, even if they are planted.
