On Nigerian So-called Rule Of Law, And The Way Out -By Mukhtar Dauda Abdullahi

Rule of law is one of the key elements of democracy in every democratic state, because it carries fundamental responsibilities that benefit the lives of citizens.

The issue of rule of law in Nigeria becomes has become something that can be described as mirage. People that are expected to maintain the practice of rule of law in the country are not fully dependent though they tend to be ones.

Judiciaries as one of the three arms of government are the body with the responsibilities of practicing this idea of rule of law in democratic state, because they are the body that is expected to be adjudicating the laws in a state. The other organs are the legislatures and executives in the state. The idea of making law is solely given to the legislatures and that of application of the made laws by the legislature is solely given to executives where the head of state is part of. These are the expected duties to be performed by the three arms of government, and the free and fair practice of their duties in a given state will yield good result when it comes to practicing rule of law in a country.

Rule of law has been has been accompanied by its fundamental pronciples that are expected to be followed in day to day activities of a given state and her teeming number of citizens. Firstly the issue of impartiality from the side of judges 2ndly the issue of access to court facilities example having a lawyer by the accused and the issue of right to adjourn the case to another court when felt disappointed by the previous one, fourthly the issue of equality before the law.

One may find it so difficult to identify the presence of the mentioned principles in Nigerian so-called rule of law. Nigeria is a country where you have huge gap between the sons of rich and sons of poor. A crime that led to the arrest of son of poor and jailed for some months in this country may not necessary be able to influence the judge to jail son of rich for a week.

As said by various scholars of social science a country without sound rule of law her own democracy will be like pouring water to an empty basket that is having hole.

Conclusively rule of law in Nigeria is in dilemma due to political interference by political leaders who need to be favoured by constitution of the state. Rule of law in Nigeria will continue facing a lot of problems until necessary majors are taken in the country. The issue of lack of equality before the law, impartiality, supposes to be tackled. Even the right of vote and that of being voted for must be given special attention, if not the rule of law in this country will continue being in dilemma.

Mukhtar Dauda Abdullahi is a level 400 student of Bsc. Political science at Bayero university Kano. He is a young writer, poet, reviewer, teacher, critic & political commentator. Mukhtar is also the proprietor of M.D.A English & Literature lesson of Yammata primary school R/lemo Kano state.