“There Can’t Be Justice in a Country Where Politicians Like Wike Build Duplexes for Judges” - Sowore

 

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticized what he described as political influence within the judiciary, warning that such practices threaten the foundation of justice in Nigeria.

 

Sowore made the statement in a post shared on Facebook, where he expressed concern about politicians allegedly providing personal benefits to members of the judiciary. In his remarks, he mentioned Nyesom Wike, arguing that actions like building houses for judges undermine the credibility of the justice system.

“There can’t be justice in a country where criminal politicians like Nyesom Wike build duplexes for judges,” Sowore wrote.

He further stressed that when members of the judiciary become beneficiaries of political patronage, the independence of the courts is placed at risk. According to him, the judiciary must remain free from political influence if it is to serve as a fair and impartial institution.

Sowore continued by stating that the moment judges are perceived to be benefiting from politicians, public confidence in the rule of law begins to weaken. In his words, such a situation creates the impression that court decisions may no longer be based strictly on legal principles.

“When the bench becomes the beneficiary of political patronage, the rule of law becomes a mirage,” he added.

The activist emphasized that the judiciary plays a central role in protecting democracy and ensuring that citizens can seek justice without interference. For that reason, he argued that judges must remain independent and avoid any relationship that could raise questions about their neutrality.