By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The Joint Action for Democracy ,JAD, says it would protest against recent judicial conduct to foreign embassies to demand visa ban on some erring judicial officers in the country.

The body at a news conference in Abuja, yesterday, expressed concerns over some judgements arising from cases related to Rivers State.

JAD which is a coalition of public interest lawyers, civil society organisations, ethnic youth leaders and political parties , called on the National Judicial Commission, NJC to act by sanctioning those involved.

The National Coordinator, High Chief Peter Ameh, speaking on behalf of the group, noted that the “situation raises serious questions about judicial impartiality and adherence to legal standards.”

“In response to these alarming developments, ethnic youth leaders, lawyers, and former presidential candidates will march to the National Judicial Council,NJC and foreign missions.

“The objective is to demand not only the removal of the judges but also to advocate for a visa ban on them due to their involvement in issuing questionable judgments and exparte rulings that undermine public trust in the judiciary.

“Nigerians still remember with ignominy the decision of an enemy of democracy, Justice Bassey Ikpeme, who, on June 10, 1993, and in a similar fashion as we see today, delivered the order that truncated democracy in Nigeria and led to the nullifying of 1993 presidential election.”

“In the light of these severe concerns regarding judicial conduct, JAD will take further steps by writing petitions to international bodies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and European Union countries.

“We will advocate for visa bans against these politically biased judges and call for their names to be placed on international alert lists.

“We must hold accountable those who compromise our democracy through their actions on the bench.

“In our petitions, we will urge these countries to investigate the lifestyles of these judges and their family members abroad, especially their spending and investment in property, jewellery, and stocks, ” he said.

Speaking further, he said,”It is essential for the credibility of our judiciary that all judges operate without any semblance of partisanship or favouritism.”

“Nigerians have not forgotten so soon; better put, Nigerians still remember with ignominy the decision of an enemy of democracy, Justice Bassey Ikpeme, who, on June 10, 1993, and in a similar fashion as we see today, delivered the order that truncated democracy in Nigeria and led to the nullifying of 1993 presidential election.

“The ‘president will remember very well that following the consequences of that order, he had to flee into exile when the military took over. The President should, therefore, be the last person to allow a political judge anywhere on the bench.

“In conclusion, we stand united in our call for accountability within our judicial system. The integrity of our courts must be preserved if we are to maintain faith in democracy itself and reiterate our call for immediate action against these biased judges.

“We urge all stakeholders in Nigeria’s legal system to join us in safeguarding our democracy and act swiftly and decisively so that justice can prevail without prejudice or favouritism, ” he added.