President Bola Tinubu says his administration will not tolerate illegal orders from courts used to truncate or abridge democracy.
He said the process of reforming the judiciary has started.
Tinubu stated this in his first Democracy Day speech broadcast to the nation on Monday morning, June 12.
Nigeria celebrates Democracy on June 12 in commemoration of the annulment of the 1993 presidential election of MKO Abiola by the military regime of retired General Ibrahim Babangida.
He vowed to improve the justice sector as part of the dividends of democracy.
The president said, “It is about rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions.
“It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.
“The recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started.”
Tinubu’s comment may not be unconnected to decisions of some courts in the country which dismissed applications from lawyers that called for the stopping of his swearing-in on May 29.
Referring to politicians seeking redress in courts, particularly his major opponents, the president said he backs them in their quest.
“But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections,” he said.
“Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man.”
In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have uncovered a secret laboratory producing a deadly illicit substance, Methamphetamine.
It said the laboratory is located in Ikeja Lagos state.
