Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to educate readers on the roles played by the judiciary and to highlight its crucial functions in democracy. It is responsible for interpreting the law, and for ensuring that the rights of all citizens are protected. It also plays a role in checking the power of the other arms of government, and in ensuring that government actions are in accordance with the law. The paper, which is descriptive in its approach, argues that a strong and independent judiciary is essential for a healthy democracy. The objective of the paper is to examine the roles of the judiciary in the contemporary Nigeria. When the judiciary is weak or subservient to the other arms of government, it cannot effectively protect the rights of citizens or check the power of the government. This can lead to abuse of power, corruption, and the erosion of democracy. One of the measures is to ensure the independence of the judiciary to include financial autonomy, security of tenure for judges, and clear procedures for their appointment and removal. Judges should be appointed based on their merit, not on their political affiliation or connections. It is also important to protect the independence of the judiciary from political interference. This can be done by giving judges life tenure, or by making it difficult to remove them from office. The paper concludes that the judiciary plays a vital role in any democracy. It recommends that reforms focused on training judges, improving court procedures, and implementing technology can enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the justice system.

Keywords

JudiciaryDemocraticConsolidationContemporaryNigeria

Published in: Nsibidi:AE-FUNAI Journal of Humanities ( Volume: 2 , Issue: 1 , October 2023)

Page(s): 13 - 28

Date of Publication: October 2023

ISSN Information: 1596-5428