International Journal of Innovative Research and Development

Abstract

It cannot be gainsaid that the extant provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria on this issue is Section 285 (5), (6) and (7) of the 1999 Constitution. Prior to the enactment of the above provisions, which became effective or operational from the 16^th day of July 2010, pursuant to or in consonance with the Constitution (First Alteration) Act 2010, otherwise called Act No. 1. The problem was that for the office of the Governor, President, National Assembly or State House of Assembly, which was all for a term or tenure of four (4) years, the observance of the requirement in Section 36 (1) that fair hearing be accorded parties in election petition matters was obeyed more in the breach. This led to grave injustices or travesty of justice as many electoral matters lapsed due to the time-wasting antics of some legal practitioners. As a result, “election petitions continued to be heard for many years and in some cases, the appeals in the Court of Appeal will be pending when the next election is held, thereby rendering the petition or appeal… otiose and academic”. After about six (6) years of practice, there are still noticeable lapses or lacuna inherent in the application of these constitutional limitations that require immediate iconoclastic legislative action bordering on further constitutional amendment. This study highlights them and shall review the decision of our apex court (the Supreme Court) on this issue with a view to making reform projections that will foster the proper respect for Nigeria’s constitutional development and make room for the upliftment of the rights to access to court/justice and elevate the right to be heard to a higher palladium or pedestal. If implemented, the recommendations will edify our current judicial practice, reform our extant procedural methodology and launch Nigeria further into the midst of working democratic models worthy of emulation at the global stage. That is the thrust of this study.

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Abstract

Human right is a broad term that encompasses several varieties of opinion that focuses on an individual and his existence in order to bestow on him a reasonable living. There is no consensus as to what constitute human right, however, what still remains extant is the consensus that the subject matter of human right is human beings because he is expected to protect and guide the moral value of his being as a human. The State has taken measures in enshrining some of these rights in their laws in order to protect its citizens. Nevertheless, the violation of human rights has always been one of the most challenging problems in the world and has been the cause of numerous sufferings by human beings. These violations in most situations are perpetuated by the activities of groups of persons who oppose the objective of the state to protect its citizens in order to achieve their goals. This is evident in the fact that man is a creature endowed with freewill to make choices in respect of what he desires. This paper assesses the various rights of the citizens Nigeria, examines the groups that today threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria and then lay emphasis on the challenging and destabilizing trend on National/ State interest that these ethnic militias and religious fundamentalists have portended. The rise of these groups shall thus be seen as clear and flagrant impediments or obstacles towards Nigeria’s ultimate realization of its national objectives or interest. We shall advocate the adoption of a new approach by the Nigerian Government in handling these threats to our existence collectively and as it affects our individual fundamental rights. A more pro-active method of averting and handling these threats will be called for and such is long overdue. The time to act is now.

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