West African Stakeholders Demand Judicial Financial Autonomy, Warn Executive Against Interference

Stakeholders from across West Africa have called for full financial autonomy for the judiciary, warning that executive interference threatens judicial independence, accountability and the protection of fundamental rights.

They made the call at a forum organised by Spaces for Change (S4C) in Enugu State as part of activities marking West Africa Civil Society Week.

The Executive Director of Spaces for Change, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, expressed concern that courts, which should protect citizens’ rights and uphold justice, were increasingly being used by executive institutions to suppress civil society organisations in the region.

She stressed that an independent judiciary, free from undue political influence, was essential to ensuring that courts discharged their constitutional responsibilities effectively.

Ibezim-Ohaeri said the West Africa Civil Society Week provided an opportunity for civil society organisations, media practitioners and other stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting civic participation, governance and accountability.

A retired Justice, Nkemdilim Izuako, acknowledged the pressures confronting the judiciary but maintained that many judges continued to demonstrate integrity in the discharge of their duties.

She described financial autonomy as a critical requirement for strengthening judicial independence and improving justice delivery.

Also speaking, a legal practitioner and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Folarin Aluko, said constitutional constraints had limited the independence of the judiciary.

He, however, argued that the judiciary could rebuild public confidence by embracing greater transparency and accountability.

Aluko recalled that the judiciary had suffered a loss of public trust during the last general elections and expressed hope that the institution would take concrete steps to restore confidence ahead of the next polls.

Comparing the Nigerian and Ghanaian judicial systems, Justice Fredrick Tetteh of the Ghanaian High Court said the judiciary in Ghana generated substantial revenue for the country but received only a portion of the proceeds to finance its operations.

He observed that the degree of government influence on the judiciary could partly depend on individual judges, although government interests could not be entirely ruled out.

Meanwhile, a civil society representative from Niger, Harouna Sally Abdoulaye, decried restrictions imposed on civil society organisations under the country’s military government.

He said the restrictions limited the ability of CSOs to operate freely and carry out their activities effectively.

The forum was attended by civil society representatives, judicial officers and media practitioners from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, reflecting regional concerns about judicial independence, civic freedoms and accountability.