Former Chief Justice of India P. N. Bhagwati, who has been inducted into Hall of Fame of top Nigerian judiciary establishment, has asked the African nation government to prevent misuse of
power and ensure justice to disadvantaged people.
"Governments have the chance to ensure rights protection for the disadvantaged sections of the community and to ensure distributive justice to them," 88-year-old Bhagwati said at the honour function here.
Bhagwati, who was CJI during 1985-86, became the first person to enter into Hall of Fame of Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies (NIALS) on Wednesday.
While calling for justice to all people irrespective of their social or educational background, Bhagwati said in many countries only "well to do" can approach the courts to protect their "vested interest".
However, the former CJI said "the have-nots and the handicapped began to feel for the first time that there was an institution to which they could turn for redress against exploitation and injustice."
Director General of NIALS Epiphany Azinge said that the institute established the award to honour individuals who have made monumental contributions to law and related disciplines especially areas that impact on
humanity.
"Bhagwati was chosen for his role in recognising the justice in economic and social rights in so many other jurisdictions globally,
including Nigeria and has particularly given impetus to the Institute's research in this area," Azinge told PTI.
The Nigerian courts were said to be slow in dispensing justice, leading to prisons being congested with detained persons awaiting trial.
Governors of Nigerian states yesterday agreed to sign death warrant for the execution of those on death row in order to decongest the
prisons.
Governor Theodore Orji of South Eastern Abia State noted that 80 per cent prisoners are awaiting trial.
The agreement, which is trailed by criticism from human rights groups like Amnesty International, came against the backdrop of a jail break which led to the death of scores of prisoners.