One of the foremost human rights advocates in Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome SAN while delivering a keynote address at the 9th convocation ceremony of Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State said, Nigeria judiciary is bastardisation of democracy.
The title of his speech reads: “The Judiciary as the Final Arbiter of Electoral Outcomes: Aberrations and Judgments Without Justice”. In the speech, Ozekhome self-defined “judocracy,” as “a system where Presidents, Governors, Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, State Assembly Members, Local Government Chairmen, and Councillors are conceived, incubated, and birthed in the hallowed chambers of our courts.”
The constitutional lawyer expressed concern over the irregularities enveloping in Nigeria judicial circle. He further enjoined the government to standardize matures to tackle judicial corrupt system saying, judiary as the frontier of democracy must remain sufficient to their fundamental rights of independence of other arms of government.
In the event, Vice Chancellor of the university, Mrs. Cele Njoku highlighted the institution’s academic progress, stating progress of the institution especially aspect of programs’ accreditation by regulatory bodies. She equally revealed a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the institution with Sacred Heart University in the United States and the existing partnership with Russian Friendship University for exchange programs and technology transfer.
Professor Augustine Uwakwe, the Pro-Chancellor of the university admonished the graduands that education is a preparatory program to career and it serves as opener of opportunities to making responsible and transformative contributions to life.
Out of 190 graduating students, 16 bagged First Class, 86 falls to Second Class Upper, 86 also falls to Second Class Lower whereas 1 is a Third Class graduate. The overall best graduand with a CGPA of 4.81, Master Ombeh Tarelayefa Clinton, received one million naira from the university’s founder, Professor Greg Ibe. He also received several prizes. Furthermore, Nigerian former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji received a honorary doctorate degree and Professor Ogechi Anyaehi received a title of Emeritus Professor.
Finally, professor Barth Nnaji, Mike Ozekhome and Orji Nwafor Orizu announced rewards to outstanding student of the university in perpetuity.
