A member of the House of Representatives, Clement Jimbo, has called for urgent legal reforms to ensure that court rulings in Nigeria are written in clear, unambiguous language to avoid confusion.
Jimbo, who represents Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, made the call on Friday during an interview on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme. His remarks come in response to the controversy surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attempt to resume legislative duties following a recent court judgment.
The judgment, delivered by the Federal High Court, has sparked conflicting interpretations. Senator Natasha believed it allowed her to return to the Senate, but the upper chamber disagreed, insisting that the ruling did not contain any specific order for her recall. As a result, she was denied access by Senate security officials.
Reacting to the situation, Jimbo urged the National Assembly to set up an ad hoc committee involving the constitutional review and judiciary committees. He proposed that this committee review relevant sections of the constitution and existing laws to develop clear guidelines on how court judgments should be written.
“The judiciary is independent, but there should be no room for confusion,” Jimbo said. “Judgments must be straightforward so that the public and parties involved understand them without misinterpretation.”
The lawmaker emphasized that such reforms would help prevent future constitutional standoffs and restore public confidence in the legal system.
