• Jailing its former PM testifies to the power of the rule of law
The primacy of the rule of law as against the rule of man is quite sobering, in its fundamental import. The attribute that all men are equal before the law, without the George Orwell’s epitaph in his book, the Animal Farm, to boot: ‘but some are more equal than others’, seems to have played out in Israel last week, when former Prime Minister Ehmud Olmert was jailed for eight months, on charges of receiving bribe, fraudulent conduct and breach of trust. The possibility of jailing such a political stalwart, is a testimony to enduring democracy in Israel, and we commend it.
The former prime minister was also jailed for six years, last year, for receiving bribe over a Jerusalem real estate scandal. In both instances, the disgraced former prime minister, who was ousted in 2009, following bribery allegations, has appealed the sentences. To get at Mr Olmert, his former office manager and confidant, Shula Zaken, became a state witness, after his earlier acquittal, for lack of evidence. At his trial, it was discovered that Olmert got about 600,000dollars from a United States business man, Moris Talansky.
For us, punishment for malfeasance must be blind to political or other privileges, in any nation that lays claim to egalitarian democracy. The current practice in Nigeria where the rule of law is prejudiced by such privileges is unfortunate, and that may explain our state of underdevelopment. In our country for now, it is perhaps far-fetched to expect a former head of government to be called to account, not to talk of being sent to jail. As our experience shows, the trial of several political office holders in the courts has remained more of a circus show, than a sobering encounter with the law.
The Israeli experience of equality of all citizens before the law is common in several other prosperous nations, and it is fundamental to their national success. The primary benefit as can be gleaned is that those who are privileged to preside over the affairs of such states, particularly its resources, understand that they are exercising positions of public trust. Thus, when prudence is the hallmark of public service, the people are the primary beneficiaries, as that translates to improvement in the quality of service. Evidence clearly shows that nations that disregard the rule of law, lack improvement in infrastructure and standard of living.
So, we commend to the new administration in our country, insistence on treating all men equally. As President Muhammadu Buhari stated in his inaugural speech, our courts must wake up to their onerous responsibilities, especially when dealing with cases of corruption and abuse of office. Perhaps as a mark of such re-awakening, all cases of corruption across the country, especially those that have lasted for years, need to be justly brought to a close, within the shortest possible time. With the assistance of the National Judicial Council, all cases of corruption should be given priority by the judges in our courts.
Again, it is heartening that the president in his address laid emphasis on treating all Nigerians equally, without fear or favour, when he said that he belongs to all, but none in particular. We therefore expect that every Nigerian, regardless of social status, will thus be accorded the same privileges and liabilities under the law. One thing the new administration must ensure we do away with is expeditious trial for common criminals and prolonged circus show, in the name of trial, for privileged Nigerians. Once Nigerians are put on the same page before the laws of the land, many of our current challenges would be resolved.
