Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, the Delta State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, on Tuesday, told the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Warri that he left the Supreme Court with bitter tastes in his heart in all the cases he lost in the country after contesting past gubernatorial elections in the State.
Chief Ogboru disclosed this during an interactive session with Delta State 2023 Gubernatorial Candidates organised by the Warri Branch of NBA.
The governorship candidates taking part in the interactive session currently holding at Parke Royale Hotel, NPA Estate, Airport Road, Warri, are of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Labour Party, LP and Peoples Redemption Party, PRP.
The APGA gubernatorial candidate who had contested the governorship election of Delta State since 2003 till date lamented the scenario.
He said he left the Court because there was no independence in the judiciary.
While noting that the Supreme Court had held that the nation continues to use the old currency, Chief Ogboru said the executive behaved as if there is no order by the Supreme Court as it continues to flout same.
He noted when the judgement of the Court is not respected, it is an “infringement” on the judiciary.
Chief Ogboru stressed the need for a functional and independent judiciary in the State.
According to him, “I believe there should be independence in the judiciary”.
He insisted that there should be financial autonomy and independence as well as checks and balances for the judiciary.
He said without the separation of powers, there will only be tyranny in the State.
While pointing out that some of the Courts in Delta State are in very bad and dilapidated condition, Chief Ogboru said if we must dispense justice in a conducive environment, the Courts must be well-equipped and staffed and remunerated.
He said good and adequate housing must be provided for public officers, especially judges.
He noted that the judges face a lot of challenges on a daily basis because they are not able to pay rent outside adding that “The environment where you stay will affect your work”.
Chief Ogboru also said lawyers should be fearless as well as speak to power on behalf of the judges and others in the State.
