VANGUARD
In a bold and thought-provoking move, billboards emblazoned with the phrase ‘All Eyes on the Judiciary’ recently sprang up across Abuja, capturing the attention of passersby.
Similarly, on the streets and in the markets across the country, it has become fashionable for the youths and women to adorn T-shirts and carry bags with ‘All Eyes on the Judiciary’ message. This development sparked a heated debate within Nigeria’s advertising and legal communities.
However, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, swiftly deemed the billboards offensive and issued an order for their immediate removal. The council also suspended its top officials for allowing the erection of the billboards while also disbanding their unit. Director General of ARCON, Olalekan Fadolapo, said, “the advertisement is considered a blackmail against the Nigerian judiciary, the presidential election petition tribunal and particularly the justices of the tribunal who are expected to discharge their judicial functions without fear or favour over a matter that is currently jus pendis”.
This has left many pondering the implications of the council’s action for free speech and the upcoming judgments on the 2023 election petition cases. The controversy surrounding the erection of the billboards has therefore ignited a nationwide discussion on the delicate balance between freedom of expression and responsible advertising.
Some former state attorney-generals, lawyers, and activists who reacted to the action criticized the Federal Government, saying nothing was disparaging about the billboards, and the message conveyed, while some citizens defended the government, insisting the billboards were unnecessary.
Nothing odious about the message- Nwoko, SAN
A former Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State, Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN, said: “As a lawyer, I see nothing offensive about the billboard or the message that it carries. I do not see why the government should take offence about such a billboard, except if there is anything in their conscience that makes it offensive.
Otherwise, I believe that if anybody says, ‘All eyes on you,’ it is for good because they are expecting you to do the right thing. Therefore, I see nothing wrong with the message of that billboard. I believe those who find the message offensive may think it is putting the judiciary on edge. However, this is truly my opinion.
Usman Dan Fodio said conscience is an open wound, and only the truth can heal it, so for me, if you work with a clear conscience and somebody says ‘all eyes are on you’, you should be happy and say ‘expect I will deliver on it’. I will not find myself as attacked or antagonized by that.
But if I have anything to hide and I do not intend to do the right thing, once somebody says ‘all eyes are on me,’ I will get jittery, and worried because what I will deliver will not be the expectation of the right- thinking members of the society. That is why I am worried the government is worried about that message”
It’s beginning of dictatorship in Nigeria —Ukpai Ukiro
Legal luminary, Chief Ukpai Ukiro, described the pulling down of the billboard with the inscription “ All Eyes Are on The Judiciary”, by the Federal Government as the beginning of dictatorship in Nigeria.
Ukiro who spoke with Saturday Vanguard in Umuahia said:”It’s a breach of right to freedom of thought, conscience and expression. That is the beginning of dictatorship. Once the Government is jittery or afraid of expression of free speech it begins to drift towards dictatorship. By the action of the Federal Government, the first step on the ignoble path of dictatorship has been taken. And that is why everybody who is a lover of democracy in Nigeria must rise up to condemn this and stand against it, otherwise we are doomed democratically “.
Danger signal to our democracy —Austin Mbaka
Another Abia-based legal practitioner, Mr Austin Mbaka, also condemned the action of the Federal Government, describing it as a danger signal to democracy in Nigeria. Mbaka further said it was a sign that the Federal Government was already uncomfortable over the possible outcome of the Presidential Election Petitions Court.
“I think the Federal Government is apprehensive about the outcome of the Presidential Election Petitions Court. Otherwise, I didn’t see any reason it would have dismantled the billboard that says all eyes are on the judiciary.
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