Let justice be done, though the heavens fall (Lord Mansfield). Until now, there was no reason to raise the question about substantial justice untainted with legal subterfuges - like the Supreme Court decision which declared a fourth place finisher in an election the winner. We are in the season again when justice would be tested to the limit. Every Nigerian taking a position on this matter is also on trial; our ethical standards are on display.
Each one of us is being asked to declare our position on alleged forgery and doubtful particulars - as well as omissions of relevant facts. I am aware that: 'Money makes everything legitimate, including bastards' (Jewish proverb). But, for once, for the sake of our nation, we should not allow ourselves to be swayed by money or appointments. Only by facts. One Federal High Court Justice already ruffled feathers by pronouncing on a matter before the Court of Appeal.
Was it human error or willful judicial rascality? Since our return to civil rule in 1999, alleged forged certificates have been revealed in every election by contestants for various offices. And virtually all the known claims of forged or dodgy credentials have ended the same way - the candidate was dismissed by the courts. ALL CANDIDATES ARE EQUAL. ARE SOME MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS?
Laws are like cobwebs where the small flies are caught; and the great breakthrough (Francis Bacon). China recently jailed, for life, the founder of EVERGRANDE on account of fraud. The case lasted less than six months. In Nigeria, a combination of ruling party politicians, EFCC, selfish and unpatriotic SANs, and dishonourable justices would have ensured that the case languished in court for years.
One Prince Ajudua is still being tried for crimes allegedly committed more than 20 years ago even as about six sitting senators have their case files gathering dust in the EFCC office. Meanwhile, our judges waste no time sending poor offenders to jail for petty theft. A member of the House of Representatives from a northern state is kicked out and prosecuted for certificate forgery; and the people of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti endorse the decision.
Then a Lagos politician is accused of certificate forgery; suddenly, the same people are asking Nigerians to ignore the crime. WILL NIGERIA AND THE JUDICIARY CONTINUE TO ENDORSE FORGERY? To be or not to be? All the leading nations have enjoyed good leadership; defined as a combination of intelligence and integrity. Does character matter to Nigerians anymore? Whether we like it or not, Nigeria has a truth problem confronting us in the coming 2027 elections.
It might be the time we finally decide as a nation if certificate forgery is acceptable for all elections, some elections or no elections. We are not only confronted with pre-meditated omissions of vital information; even the certificates presented are being challenged as fake. Then, there is the lingering matter of hundreds of thousands of dollars voluntarily forfeited to the US government during an alleged shady past; and, curiously, the FBI has stubbornly refused to release information concerning the matter.
When a clown becomes king or queen, the palace becomes a circus. We could continue to promote corruption - in all its ramifications; or, we could decide, at last, to emulate those nations which have adopted zero tolerance as state policy. Wisdom in people consists of the anticipation of consequences (Norman Cousins). Source: vanguardngr.com
