#FameAgidife_TheLegalLens on a key presentation on Fame Agidife Leadership Lectures Series @fameagidife.blogspot.com
This topic is deeply rooted on the very foundation of 'judicial justice' as an independent authority dependent on upholding justice, fairness, and constitutional values — especially for the common man, who may lack political influence, economic power, or access to elite privileges. And that does not necessarily mean the poor or the unenlightened members of the society or citizens of the state only; but to all and sundary that might have been oppressed and suppressed by the manipulative instrument of power and the technicalities of the laws on the most vulnerable by the most powerful.
This principle also exists in laws of natural justice. Just as my mother used to say in her lay man view; "that no matter what happened even in the coven you must be judged before killing you." And that underscores how critical it is for everyone's voice is to be heard before passing out judgement on him or her. Sad to say, a natural principle that somewhat void of jungle justice.
This principle in court is formally addressed by court officials and lawyers during plenaries as your lordship or as your honour pleases. In other words, it means that once her honour or lordship sits on that bench as symbol of 'the temple of justice', he or she seized to see herself or himself as a regular lawyer who interprete the laws only but as a judicial authority to adjudicate a case based on the available facts and evidence presented before him or her on his or her sworn oath to uphold justice upon the lives and death of the innocents souls as they sole depended in the spirit of how she or he uses his or her wisdom as discretion to pronounce judgement as shall have been interpreted in accordance with the relevant laws of the land or the state. Therefore, her honour or his lordship cannot just sit down on the bench of justice and allow himself or herself to be manipulated by learned colleagues and court prosecutors without properly seeing through the course of justice before pronouncing judgement.
There was a murder case in Lagos, Nigeria, whereby his lordship stubbornly refused to accept against all facts and evidence available to him that the accused is a mad person and cannot be kept along with other inmates in the correctional center or prison. In his wisdom, his lordship felt it is a pretest and that the accused is normal and should be taken to prison. But on their way to prison the accused who spontaneously seizes up like a demon possessed mad person hung up the throat of a wader who on his guard and once that hand clamped happened on the throat of any human it is very difficult to be removed except you have to cut the hand off and on the contrary the law does not permit such power to do so on an accused. Whichever way that impasse was later granted for the accused to have later been taking to psychiatric center at Yaba was different ball game entirely from what his lordship initially believed and passed as a judgement. In that way, his lordship had used his wisdom to have passed a judgement that did not only put those who implemented the judgement in disarray but also the lives of other innocent people harm's way.
There was another case at Ojo Magistrate court 2, Lagos-Nigeria, where one 'Mr Nwabueze nee' happened to be arraigned on criminal conspiracy, murder attempt and assault and etc. And after the chief prosecutor had read out the case for the accused to be prosecuted and the accused was asked by the honourable magistrate to respond to the charges why he believes he is not guilty of the charges. In his response, the accused acted and sounded strange in manner that her honour felt and believe instantly that it was a mad man that was arranged in court before her. The accused was confidently narrating delusionary story of how he was with God together with the plaintiff over 400 years ago and the plaintiff who happened to be his boss on earth here was at the right hand of God. And was sent to earth here to help the brethren whom are children of God and getting here he changed to be working for Satan the Lucifer and become chief persecutor of God's children and upon this knowledge known to him only is the reason why he is fighting the plaintiff as choosing child of God against him the agent of Lucifer who has come here to destroy God's children.
Upon hearing this, her honour roared in court; "IPO how dare you arraigned a man with unsound mind before me in my court. Are you not aware that this man is mentally unsound or does it mean that you did not do a diligent work on your investigation before bringing this man to this honourable court ?"
The accused interjected that "no your honour, that he has the picture of the plaintiff at the right hand of God as a proof". And her honour demanded to see the picture and asked whether the picture is with him there at the witness box, meanwhile the picture was conspicuously removed from the statement of the accused by the police IPO at the station and on demand of it by the honourable magistrate it was then provided by the IPO to the court clerk who then showed it to her honour.
Her honour was visibly angry at the investigating police officer (IPO), in that, if not a clear case of police manipulation with plaintiff there is no way such case would have been allowed to be charged to any competent court of law. "From all assessment before this honorable court which everyone in this court can testify to, this man is unsound mentally and he is not fit to stand before trial in this court and from all that I have heard from the accused are alien to to me and to this Court". Even my forefathers had not yet born and I do not know anyone here that have been born since 400 years ago.
Therefore, the accused cannot be kept along with other inmates in any correctional center because it is unsafe for other inmates and this case is hereby struck out and discharged so I hereby ruled.
On a critical assessment of this; it is clear on how her honour used her wisdom to have passed her judgement in view of the prevailing circumstances she found as overwhelming facts and evidence surrounding the accused.
Nature and Other Factors that need to be reasoned when taking a critical look at the Judiciary as the temple of justice' as "the last of hope of the common man".
1. Understanding the Judiciary as the Temple of Justice as the last bastion for the common man.
The judiciary is often called “The Temple of Justice” — a metaphor that emphasizes its sanctity, integrity, and authority in a democratic society. Just like a temple is a sacred place where people seek spiritual peace, the courtroom is a sacred place where people seek justice.
Key Roles of the Judiciary:
Interpretation of the law
Enforcement of rights and duties
Resolution of disputes
Check on executive and legislative powers
The judiciary ensures that no one is above the law, and it protects the weak from the strong, especially when other arms of government fail.
2. “The Last Hope of the Common Man” – What it Means
This phrase, widely credited to Justice Chukwudifu Oputa of Nigeria, refers to the unique position of the judiciary as the final refuge for citizens when every other institution has failed.
The Legislature may be politically motivated.
The Executive may abuse power.
But the Judiciary, if truly independent, serves as the guardian of the rule of law and defender of human rights.
For the common man — the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized — the courtroom may be the only place where their voice is heard and rights are restored.
3. Wisdom of Her Honour the Honourable Magistrate
Magistrates are the first point of contact for most people in the justice system. They deal with minor criminal cases, civil disputes, and pre-trial matters. The wisdom of a magistrate lies in:
Balancing justice with mercy at the grassroots level.
Maintaining judicial discipline even under pressure.
Applying discretion fairly — for example, in granting bail or in sentencing.
Being accessible and upholding procedural fairness, especially to those without legal representation.
A wise magistrate recognizes that her courtroom may be the only place a poor person experiences government fairness.
4. Wisdom of Her Lordship the Chief Judge
The Chief Judge is the symbol of judicial authority in a state or jurisdiction. Her Lordship has the responsibility to:
Ensure judicial independence
Maintain discipline and ethics among judges
Uphold the rule of law
Advance legal reforms that make justice more accessible
Her wisdom reflects in:
Protecting judges from political interference
Promoting judicial education and innovation (e.g., digital courts)
Ensuring speedy trials and reducing backlog
Making the judiciary approachable, transparent, and accountable
A wise Chief Judge must be courageous, morally upright, and vision-driven to strengthen public trust in the judicial system.
5. Judiciary vs. Corruption and Delay
Unfortunately, many common people lose hope when they experience delays, corruption, or bias in the justice system.
A wise judiciary must fight:
Case delays (Justice delayed is justice denied)
Bribery and political interference
Denial of access to legal aid
The wisdom of both the magistrates and the chief judges lies in restoring confidence in the judiciary by:
Delivering timely, fair decisions
Encouraging pro bono services
Simplifying court procedures
In Conclusion: 'The Bench' as Guardians of Justice; then,
"The Temple of Justice must remain pure", strong, and compassionate. The wisdom of the Honourable Magistrate and Her Lordship the Chief Judge is critical in preserving this sanctuary."
They represent:
Hope for the helpless
Redress for the wronged
Sanction for the wicked
Ultimately, a judiciary full of wisdom, courage, and integrity becomes not just the last hope, but the living proof that democracy, fairness, and equality can truly work.
Relevant Quotes:
“The judiciary is the last hope of the common man.” — Justice Chukwudifu Oputa
“Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.” — Lord Hewart
“A judge is not a legislator. A judge is a guardian of the law.” — Lord Denning
Other notable real-life Nigerian and international judicial examples that illustrate the wisdom of the magistracy, the leadership of the Chief Judge, and the role of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man are as follow:
🇳🇬 Nigerian Examples
1. Justice Chukwudifu Oputa – “The Socrates of the Supreme Court”
> 🏛️ Legacy: Justice Oputa is credited with the iconic phrase “The judiciary is the last hope of the common man.”
🧠 His judgments in landmark cases reflected deep reasoning, fairness, and moral strength. As Chair of the Oputa Panel (Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission), he exposed abuse of power and gave victims a voice — a direct expression of the Temple of Justice in action.
2. Justice Mary Odili (Former Supreme Court Justice)
> 🧕🏽 Example of Wisdom: In cases involving electoral disputes, she often stressed that judges must not “legislate from the bench,” but must apply the law without fear or favour.
💬 Her strong dissenting opinions (e.g., in some governorship election cases) showed judicial independence and courage to stand by truth and legality — protecting both democracy and the common man’s vote.
3. Chief Judge of Lagos – Justice Kazeem Alogba
> ⚖️ Judicial Reforms: Under his leadership, Lagos introduced virtual courts, fast-tracked prison decongestion, and digitized filing systems — allowing even the poor and uneducated easier access to justice.
🛠️ Impact: These reforms helped reduce delays and corruption, aligning with the Temple of Justice ideal.
4. Magistrate Patrick U. Inyang (Cross River)
> 🧠 In a 2020 case, he released several petty offenders who had spent more time in detention awaiting trial than their offense warranted. His ruling reflected compassion, procedural fairness, and common sense — key aspects of magistrate-level wisdom.
💬 He said: “Justice is not served when a poor man spends 2 years in prison over a loaf of bread.”
🌍 International Examples
5. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (USA Supreme Court)
👩⚖️ Legacy: She became a symbol of justice for women, minorities, and the voiceless. Her rulings championed equality, civil rights, and constitutional integrity. ⚖️ In United States v. Virginia (1996), she struck down male-only admission to a military academy, stating that “gender equality is a constitutional right,” protecting millions from systemic discrimination.
6. Lord Denning (UK) – The People’s Judge
> ⚖️ He was famous for prioritizing equity over technicality. In the High Trees case (1947), he helped redefine contract law by ensuring fairness prevailed.
💬 Quote: “Justice is not a cloistered virtue... It must be rooted in the realities of life.”
7. Magistrate Margaret Mwachande (Kenya)
👩🏽⚖️ In a widely praised ruling, she released a poor mother who stole maize flour to feed her children. Instead of jailing her, the magistrate linked her to a support program and rebuked the government for failing its people. 💬 She said: “The law punishes crime, but justice uplifts humanity.”
✨ Key Takeaways From These Examples
Role What Makes Them Stand Out How They Help the Common Man
Magistrate Practical wisdom, empathy, real-world understanding, how they handles daily cases of the poor, weak, and vulnerable.
Chief Judge Visionary leadership, administrative reform, judicial integrity that ensures system-wide access, fairness, and speed. And
Higher Justices Philosophical depth, constitutional interpretation that Sets legal precedent to protect rights for all citizens and etc.
🏛️ Conclusion
In conclusion, It is in important to re-echo Justice Okon Abang of Federal high court' Abuja's famous quote in a similar contest on how the judiciary stands for the defense all as the last of hope the common man which made him to make critical declaration on Olisa Metuh, the former PDP publicity secretary and in his words:
“In all my years on the bench, I have never encountered a defendant like Olisa Metuh, who has been given every opportunity under the law to defend himself but keeps coming up with excuses, mostly on health grounds, just to frustrate the trial.” And
He went on to state that:
“The defendant has continued to treat the court with disdain. He has made mockery of the judicial process by always claiming to be sick each time the case is scheduled for hearing.”
Justice Abang expressed frustration at how Metuh, the former PDP National Publicity Secretary, had used health-related excuses repeatedly to delay and stall the proceedings in the alleged N400 million fraud case involving funds linked to the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki gate . In other words,
the wisdom of the Honourable Magistrate and Her Lordship the Chief Judge are not just in how they interpret laws, but in how they uphold justice with humanity. When they act with integrity, fairness, and compassion, they keep the Temple of Justice open for the common man — the widow, the prisoner, the market woman, the unemployed youth — and prove that democracy can work for everyone, not just the powerful.
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