The Rule of Law

The survival of democracy depends to a great extent, on the just and efficient working of the courts of law. The people look up to these courts for reprieve against those who interfere with their rights. Through the declaration and application of law, the courts make public in provisions are not subject to the will of an arbitrary, Government, but rather to a known and accepted set of rules . In the present dispensation, the activities of the courts, when it comes to the dispensation of justice in civil and criminal matters, have not met the expectations of the people.

The quality of an unspecified number of Magistrates and Justices, who perhaps leave most of the work to their clerks is a discredit to the system. The attitude, competence and integrity of judicial workers is also not a credit to the system. Sadly, the combination of the rule ‘’no wrong without remedy’’, with the Rule of Law, does not protect the citizen from unlawful imprisonment or other injury at the hands of Government officials and agents. This has resulted in countless number of illegal detentions. Not surprisingly, the enemies of democracy, by creating insecurity, has led this administration, one step after the other, to curtail liberty on the pretext of preserving peace. In a democracy, the transparent recruitment and training of law enforcement agents and the appointment of judges and magistrates substantially determines the functionality of the rule of law. All levels of Government, irrespective of political party affiliation are obsessed with power and since they are composed of human beings, they are inclined to resent criticism, and see in ti a danger to the peace, where none exists. A Government with intentions to persecute, will naturally begin with the more unpopular personalities, and the arbitrary treatment of them will serve as a precedent for other sections in time to come.