Rights Commission Condemns Misuse of Court Orders, Urges Urgent Reforms to Protect Nigeria’s Justice System
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| International Human Rights |
The International Human Rights Commission – Relief Funds Trust (IHRC-RFT), Nigeria Chapter has raised alarm over the increasing abuse of court orders to shield alleged human rights violators and obstruct justice across Nigeria.
In a statement released by Ambassador Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu, the Country Director, IHRC-RFT warned that this emerging trend—where suspects quickly secure restraining court orders to prevent law enforcement from arresting or investigating them—is harming public trust in the nation’s judicial system.
> “This practice severely limits the operational scope of security agencies and weakens citizens’ faith in justice delivery,” the commission stated.
According to IHRC-RFT, some officials within the judiciary and security institutions have also voiced concern over the growing misuse of legal processes designed to uphold justice but now being exploited to stifle it.
While reaffirming their respect for the judiciary and the purpose of court orders in a democracy, the Commission stressed that such legal tools should never be allowed to become weapons of oppression or impunity.
> “We are not advocating the elimination of court orders,” the statement clarified. “We’re calling for safeguards to ensure such orders are granted based on fairness, transparency, and justice—without obstructing legitimate law enforcement or trampling victims’ rights.”
Referencing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)—which Nigeria has ratified—the IHRC-RFT cited:
Article 7, which guarantees equal protection under the law without discrimination;
Article 8, which provides for the right to legal remedy when fundamental rights are violated.
The commission urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, lawmakers at both national and state levels, governors, and judicial authorities to immediately investigate this abuse and initiate systemic reforms.
It also called on legal professionals and judges to ensure that court orders are issued with integrity, prioritizing justice and human rights over political or personal protection.
> “The goal must be to uphold the principles of natural justice—not to provide cover for individuals seeking to evade accountability,” the statement concluded.
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