The Christian Lawyers’ Fellowship of Nigeria, CLASFON, has expressed Despair over the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari

“It is our expectation that the appointment and swearing-in of the Justices will translate to a speedy dispensation of justice in the apex court of the property and draining of the massive backlog of pending cases,” the lawyers prayed.

It condemned the wanton destruction of public and private possessions by hoodlums who took good advantage of their #ENDSARS protests and condoled with those who lost their nearest and dearest, properties and also their means of livelihood.
The assembly called on both country Governors to heed the voice of reason and do what is right in order to secure the independence of the Judiciary in their own States.

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The attorneys expressed their disapproval into the undue political interference in the appointment of Chief Judges of States, notably in Cross River as it affects the appointment of Justice Akon Ikpeme and in Gombe State about the appointment of Justice Beatrice Iliya, alleging that although eminently competent and as most senior Judges in both States, they have both been sadly sidelined on either cultural, religious or spiritual grounds.
The Christian Lawyers’ Fellowship of Nigeria, CLASFON, has expressed Despair over the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to change the Service Chiefs at the face of the monumental collapse of Safety and a near-total breakdown of law and order.

It commended the stance from the National Judicial Council on both cases and hoped the ideal things would be completed in the end.

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CLASFON said it was alerted by the widespread insecurity in the territory, with daily reports of killings and incessant kidnapping by bandits and terrorists.
It noted that the intriguing and embarrassing circumstances surrounding the appointment of the Chief Judges of Cross Rivers and Gombe countries have brought to the fore the urgent need to evolve beyond spiritual, religious or sex sentiments and also to focus on factors bordering on merit, efficiency and equitable considerations.

About the #EndSARS protests, the entire body commended the federal government for directing the institution of various Judicial Commissions of Inquiry to investigate allegations of human rights abuses by the disbanded SARS Police Units and notes with despair the attempt to suspend the accounts for alleged #EndSARS sponsors.

A communique signed by Arome Okwori and Olatunji Omole, National President and Secretary, respectively, noted that after much deliberations on the state of the judiciary nationally by the participants, they commended President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating eight new Supreme Court Justices to the Senate for appointment following prolonged initial foot-dragging.

The lawyers urged the national and state governments to take urgent steps to secure the release of Pastor Polycarp Zongo along with other taxpayers in the control of terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements, adding that concrete steps have to be put in place to secure the security of the lives and properties of citizens.

The quarterly meeting of this President-in-Council of CLASFON said, “The nation is plunging into a state of total anarchy together with all the current reports of kidnapping of Police Officers as well as other security employees for ransom, the current killing of their APC chairman of Nasarawa state in Lafia and kidnapping of Pastor Polycarp Zongo of the COCIN Church on his way from Jos, Plateau state to Gombe at Gombe State.”
The participants called on the national government to desperately de-escalate tension by unfreezing the bank account of the perceived patrons of their youths protests and create a more conducive environment for victims to come out openly to ventilate their grievances before the various Judicial Panels throughout the countries.
On the ASUU strike, the participants expressed concern that after more than eight weeks, both the universities and other public tertiary institutions in the country continue to be closed down with an army of anxious and agitated youth in the home and roaming the roads.