Home:: Journals

The Justice Observatory Journal Published by Access to Justice
Publication and Subscription (TOJ)

OUR MISSION - OUR ASPIRATION-OUR PLEDGE

Nigeria's prolonged years of military rule had particularly malign consequences for judicial independence and the integrity of the judicial system. The obsession for power and lucre that attacked and destroyed much of our national value fabric stealthily found its way, predictably, into the judicial vicinity and caused much havoc in so very little time.

Yet, we cannot lay the entire blame on the military actors. Independence of the judiciary, as many people would argue, begins, or at least, is characterized by a kind of internal independence of mind and spirit that exudes out as a physical quality-the attitude to defend the integrity of the judicial space granted by the Constitution and the nature of the judicial function. That perhaps was what many judges lacked. On the other hand, many say our judges and lawyers are human beings with human frailties and failings. Where the society that moulds the way their lives are lived becomes banal, they too, may become vulnerable. No one disputes, however, that the cost of their failing is too profound for the values that define and identify the judicial institution as a whole. This Journal should therefore keep watch over conduct that besmirchs the quality of Justice, to report about and denounce them.

We realize too, that many judges are politicians in just another guise. The appointments of many of them were mere political favours, and we cannot expect too much from them: the challenge therefore is to ensure that these ones who have “gate crashed” into the institution do not disserve the high expectations of that sacred institution.

But there are many who have been steadfast in principled reverence to their oath of service, and who have paid some price for that steadfastness. Many have borne the weight of their persecution in stoic solicitude. We would like to stand by their sides henceforth, and, as their faith is tried, echo the challenges they face, and galvanize support for them, and, by ensuring that these stay strong in the face of torment or trial, encourage others to practice the same resoluteness of character. This, we hope, will help restore public confidence in the administration of justice and uphold the rule of law in a democratic Nigeria. The Justice Observatory Journal thus provides a platform where alliances will be built with lawyers, judges, policy makers and the public alike, for those who will face the critical challenge of their fidelity from time to time.

The objectives of The Justice Observatory Journal are therefore twofold: to attack corruption and perversion in justice administration on the one hand, and support the independence and autonomy of justice institutions on the other hand. This we aver as our pledge, and our abiding commitment.