By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Okutepa, has cautioned lawyers and members of the public against interpreting judicial decisions through the prism of political allegiance, warning that the growing trend poses a serious threat to public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
Okutepa, in a statement published on his X handle on Saturday, November 14, 2026, lamented that court judgments were increasingly being assessed not on the basis of facts, applicable laws and sound legal reasoning, but according to whether they favoured particular politicians or political parties.
He observed that some lawyers had abandoned professional objectivity in favour of partisan considerations, turning their legal expertise into instruments for defending political interests rather than objectively determining whether justice had been served.
According to him, the same individuals who celebrate the judiciary when its decisions favour their political interests are often quick to condemn it when the outcome goes against their preferred candidates or parties.
He stressed that a judgment does not become legally sound simply because it benefits political allies, just as it does not become wrong merely because it favours political opponents.
Okutepa maintained that the credibility of the legal profession was being eroded by the growing tendency of lawyers to apply different standards to judicial decisions depending on the political identities of the parties involved.
He further emphasised that judicial independence must go beyond mere constitutional declarations, insisting that judges must be free from political control, financial inducement, personal relationships, partisan sympathy and fear of consequences.
He said judicial independence should be demonstrated through the courage of judges to apply the law impartially, protect fundamental rights and make decisions against powerful individuals whenever the facts and the law demand it.
The senior lawyer also expressed concern that perceptions of political interference had significantly weakened public confidence in the judiciary, noting that although an unpopular judgment does not automatically establish improper influence, genuine concerns about judicial impartiality must be addressed through credible institutional conduct and transparent processes.
He argued that public confidence in the courts could not be secured by merely demanding respect for judicial institutions, but must be earned through fair procedures, impartial consideration of evidence and sound, honest legal reasoning.
According to him, neither public applause nor partisan satisfaction can substitute for justice, adding that the outcome desired by a political group cannot be allowed to determine what constitutes justice.
Okutepa consequently called on lawyers to uphold intellectual honesty and consistent professional standards when examining judicial decisions, warning that defending questionable judgments because they benefit political allies, or attacking sound decisions because they favour opponents, undermines the very institution the legal profession is duty-bound to protect.
He maintained that respectful and informed criticism of judicial decisions strengthens the administration of justice, while partisan justification weakens it.
The SAN called for a justice system anchored on fair hearings, principled judgments, transparent administration and demonstrable judicial independence, stressing that Nigerians must be confident that wealth, influence and political connections would not confer undue advantage on anyone before the courts.
He added that the enduring authority of the judiciary rests on public trust that justice would be administered without fear or favour.
Okutepa therefore urged judges and lawyers to place justice above political convenience and consistently uphold the rule of law, irrespective of who wins or loses in any legal dispute.
