Vice President Shettima Warns Against Blackmailing The Judiciary.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has cautioned against attempts to blackmail the judiciary, stressing that Nigeria’s legal system must not be compromised for selfish or parochial interests.
Speaking at the maiden Body of Benchers Annual Lecture and the public presentation of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee report in Abuja, Shettima urged judges and legal practitioners to uphold justice without succumbing to external pressures from what he termed “agents of anarchy.”
“As custodians of the law, the judiciary remains a fundamental pillar of our sovereign existence. A nation is only as accountable, fair, and orderly as those who make, enforce, and interpret its laws,” he stated.
He emphasised that the legal system is the backbone of any civilised society and warned that any attempt to manipulate it for personal or political gain could destabilise the country.
“Without laws, there is no order. Without order, there is no society. Every time justice is delayed or bent to serve vested interests, we erode the foundation of our nation. And if that foundation crumbles, no matter how high we have built, everything falls apart,” Shettima stressed.
He also refuted the idea that justice should be dictated by public outcry, insisting that the judiciary must remain independent and committed to fairness. Commending the judiciary for its resilience, he highlighted its role in upholding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate despite political pressures and blackmail.
“In reality, justice is just as essential to the most voiceless individual. It affirms that a nation is not ruled by mobs but by the rule of law. The judiciary’s decision to uphold President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate, despite political blackmail, reflects its resilience against vested interests and commitment to national stability,” he added.
Shettima’s remarks serve as a strong call for judicial integrity, reinforcing the importance of an independent and unbiased legal system in maintaining national order and democracy.
