ABUJA – Prominent lawyer and human rights advocate Monday Ubani has called for the creation of an independent enforcement unit under the judiciary to tackle the rising wave of disobedience to court rulings, especially by powerful political actors and institutions.
Ubani, speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Friday, warned that Nigeria’s judiciary is being crippled by its inability to implement its own decisions — a flaw he described as a serious structural defect in the nation’s justice system.
“The judiciary has a big problem in terms of having those that should enforce the pronouncement of the court,” Ubani stated.
He explained that the Nigerian Police, who are constitutionally empowered to enforce court judgments, are part of the executive arm of government, creating a situation where enforcement becomes subject to executive bias or interference.
“The police that’s supposed to enforce judgment of the court does not belong to the judicial sector. They are part of the executive. So part of the prescription is that, can we look at the issue of having the judiciary to have a standing enforcement unit that can enforce its judgment?”
Ubani lamented that judgments—even against the Inspector-General of Police or other top security agencies—are often ignored or obstructed, making the court’s pronouncements impotent in practice.
“Most times pronouncements are made, and you find out that the police become a stumbling block… it becomes impossible for you to enforce that judgment.”
Judges Must Embrace Contempt Powers
In addition to an internal enforcement unit, Ubani urged the judiciary to boldly activate contempt proceedings against those who defy court orders.
“It is also very important that the judiciary must begin to activate the power of punishment — issue of contempt proceedings. Most times you find out that some of the judges are very afraid even to enforce their own judgment after they have made a pronouncement and there is flagrant disobedience.”
Ubani argued that judges must be courageous and committed to upholding the dignity of the courts. Without consequence for disobedience, he warned, judicial integrity will continue to erode.
“If somebody disobeys that judgment, that pronouncement, then somebody must go in for it. Somebody must be punished.”
Context: A Growing Threat to Legal Order
Ubani’s remarks follow a disturbing trend in Nigeria where legal judgments—especially political ones—are twisted or outrightly ignored by litigants who cherry-pick what to accept.
This selective compliance, according to legal observers, is contributing to confusion, political tension, and public misinformation, even at the Supreme Court level. The disregard for final rulings has created an atmosphere of legal uncertainty and undermined the sanctity of the judiciary.
Ubani’s proposal for a judiciary-controlled enforcement unit is already stirring debate among legal and political circles, with many seeing it as a bold step toward restoring judicial independence and respect for the rule of law.
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Reporting by Adeniyi Ogunfowoke, The Naija247news in Lagos, Nigeria.
