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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Why Nigerians patronise shrines, by cleric
IT is the failure of the nation's judges to promptly dispense most of the cases before them that is largely responsible for the high patronage of shrines by some Nigerians.
Bishop of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Osun Diocese, Rt. Rev. James Popoola, stated this at the commencement of the state legal year.
According to him, some people have lost hope in the judiciary and that was why they "take matter that would have been handled in the law court to Okija or Ayelala shrines where they believe they will find justice."
Besides, the cleric chided both the judiciary and the police for toying with cases of murder which in most cases "go on and on in the court with the police not able to find culprits or with cases being dismissed by judges for want of evidence."
Citing biblical injunctions, Popoola warned the state judges not to allow the executive, the legislative, "business power or bottom power" to influence their judgment.
He cautioned them also against receiving of bribe, saying the wrath of God awaits any judge who partakes in such unholy act.
"May I remind the Chief Judge and other judges and magistrate, there are people who have been thrown into detention for years without trial, some of them may not even be guilty of the charges against them," he said.
The Anglican Bishop also called the judges' attention to treatment of those involved in minor offences and cases involving under aged persons while warning them to avoid a judicial recklessness.
He added: "The Nigerian prison system should do more than putting convicts out of circulation so that the society can enjoy peace. Convicts should be reformed and helped to fit into the normal society after serving their jail term. The system would be a failure if convicts go to prison and come out as more hardened criminals without any form of rehabilitation."
The cleric also enjoyed the leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to be more vocal in defending the rights of the common man.
He appealed to both the Federal and state governments to always obey court's verdicts on issues so as not to make the judiciary a toothless bulldog, particularly in this democratic dispensation.`
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